Gamba la Nyoka
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- May 1, 2007
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said three hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, could be in Venezuela by sundown if an operation to transfer them begins Thursday morning.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez explains details about a possible release of the hostages.
At least two Venezuelan helicopters bearing the symbol of the International Red Cross were ready to fly to an undisclosed location in Colombia to retrieve the hostages, Chavez said.
The Colombian government must guarantee safe passage to the left-wing FARC rebels who participate in the handoff, he added.
Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said on Wednesday his government had agreed to the terms of Chavez's proposed "humanitarian operation." The agreement came four hours after Chavez outlined his plan at a news briefing in Venezuela.
"The Colombian government thanks the Venezuelan government and, in particular, President Hugo Chavez, for his interest in the unilateral and unconditional liberation of the three kidnap victims," Araujo said in a statement.
Araujo himself was held as a FARC hostage for six years until his escape about a year ago.
It was not immediately clear when the operation would begin. However, Chavez described Colombia's agreement as the last step before the operation to free the hostages would begin.
FARC has held the hostages for years. It's been mired in a complex and long-running civil war war that that also has involved right-wing paramilitaries, government forces and drug traffickers.
Rojas' son, Emmanuel, who was born in captivity, and Consuelo Gonzalez, a former Colombian congressman, were the other two hostages who could be freed, he said.
Betancourt is perhaps the most well-known captive in a country plagued by kidnapping. Her plight has attracted international attention, with several leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, pressing for her release. Watch Betancourt's husband react to the news of the possible release of other hostages »
Chavez said he hoped the FARC would free Betancourt and other hostages next.
He said that he consulted with the leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador about the hostages. They range in political philosophy from left to center-left. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe leads a rightist political party; he has quarreled with the leftist Chavez recently.
Chavez said he also consulted with French authorities as well.
During his press briefing, Chavez stood before a map of Venezuela and Colombia and pointed out several airports on the Venezuelan side of the frontier where the freed hostages could arrive.
He said he had considered options for a clandestine operation but decided that would be too risky
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez explains details about a possible release of the hostages.
At least two Venezuelan helicopters bearing the symbol of the International Red Cross were ready to fly to an undisclosed location in Colombia to retrieve the hostages, Chavez said.
The Colombian government must guarantee safe passage to the left-wing FARC rebels who participate in the handoff, he added.
Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said on Wednesday his government had agreed to the terms of Chavez's proposed "humanitarian operation." The agreement came four hours after Chavez outlined his plan at a news briefing in Venezuela.
"The Colombian government thanks the Venezuelan government and, in particular, President Hugo Chavez, for his interest in the unilateral and unconditional liberation of the three kidnap victims," Araujo said in a statement.
Araujo himself was held as a FARC hostage for six years until his escape about a year ago.
It was not immediately clear when the operation would begin. However, Chavez described Colombia's agreement as the last step before the operation to free the hostages would begin.
FARC has held the hostages for years. It's been mired in a complex and long-running civil war war that that also has involved right-wing paramilitaries, government forces and drug traffickers.
Rojas' son, Emmanuel, who was born in captivity, and Consuelo Gonzalez, a former Colombian congressman, were the other two hostages who could be freed, he said.
Betancourt is perhaps the most well-known captive in a country plagued by kidnapping. Her plight has attracted international attention, with several leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, pressing for her release. Watch Betancourt's husband react to the news of the possible release of other hostages »
Chavez said he hoped the FARC would free Betancourt and other hostages next.
He said that he consulted with the leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador about the hostages. They range in political philosophy from left to center-left. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe leads a rightist political party; he has quarreled with the leftist Chavez recently.
Chavez said he also consulted with French authorities as well.
During his press briefing, Chavez stood before a map of Venezuela and Colombia and pointed out several airports on the Venezuelan side of the frontier where the freed hostages could arrive.
He said he had considered options for a clandestine operation but decided that would be too risky
