Colombian Hostages Rescued

Three Americans and 12 Colombians held hostage for more than six years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist guerilla group in Colombia, were set free in a dramatic rescue operation by the Colombian military. Rescued Colombians include former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, 46, as well as Colombian police and soldiers.

The rescue operation has dealt a severe blow to the FARC, which abducted Betancourt and three Americans to exchange them for their fellow guerillas detained by the Colombian government.

○ Colombian military operatives deceived the FARC

The International Herald Tribune gave a detailed coverage of this bold rescue operation using helicopters, quoting Colombia’s Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos as saying, “Without firing a single bullet, we pulled off the rescue by tricking them.”

Intelligence operatives of the Colombian military, who disguised themselves as NGO officials, infiltrated the FARC`s leadership several months ago. After gaining trust from the high-ranking officials of the guerilla group, the Colombian spies rescued hostages by deceiving a regional commander in charge that they are taking the hostages to the FARC’s new Commander-in-Chief Alfonso Cano.

The hostages, who had been divided into three groups, were taken to a rendezvous in the jungle where two MI-17 helicopters were waiting; one was on the ground and the other in the air.

Betancourt was heartened to think she was finally rescued, but seeing crew members wearing shirts having a portrait of Che Guevara, the legendary Marxist revolutionist, she was disappointed. She also saw one who has watched her during her captivity.

However, once airborne, the disguised intelligence operatives instantly knocked out three FARC members who were onboard along with the hostages. And a pilot said, “We are from the Colombian government and you are free.”

"The helicopter almost fell from the sky because we were jumping up and down, yelling, crying, and hugging one another. We couldn’t believe it," the IHT quoted Betancourt as saying.

According to the Time magazine, the code name of this clandestine rescue operation was “Jague,” or “Check” in English, meaning making a checkmate move as in chess.

The operation emulated the one conducted by the FARC in 2002. At the time, the Marxist guerilla group disguised themselves as the government army and abducted 13 local lawmakers. The New York Times also reported that the Colombian government got the inspiration from the FARC’s 2002 operation, and that the United States also gave some help in setting plans and implementing the rescue operation.

○ Betancourt to run for the Colombian presidency in 2010

“I’ve never dreamed that I would be rescued alive,” said Betancourt when she hugged her mother Yolanda Pulecio and her husband in the Colombian capital city of Bogotá.

Once, reports said that she was in grave condition. But from TV footage, she looked healthy though quite thin.

Her children, who live with her ex-husband in Paris, are also jubilant over their mother’s rescue. Melanie Delloye, 22, said in an interview with Reuters, “I have been looking forward to the moment I hug my mother.” Her son Lorenzo, 20, said, "It’s one of the greatest moments of my life. I am surprised and happy."

In the meantime, Betancourt expressed her willingness to run in the 2010 Colombian presidential election, saying, “I still want to serve Colombia as a president.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who presented the release of Betancourt as one of his presidential election pledges, welcomed her rescue, saying, “The six-year–long nightmare is over.” World leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President George W. Bush also expressed their congratulations on the successful operation.

○ FARC in Crisis

Having lost the most "valuable" hostage -- Betancourt, the FARC is now facing the biggest crisis in 44 years since its foundation.

For its part, the Colombian government, which has engrained in fierce battles against guerilla groups, was boosted by the operation and is set to reinforce operations to clamp down on rebels. In a statement issued right after the successful release of the hostages, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he urged the FARC release all remaining hostages and adopt peaceful lines.

According to Time, a decade ago, the FARC boasted some 20,000 combatants, but the number has now plummeted to about 10,000. With some FARC commanders surrendering to the government over the past couple of months, and the death of Manuel Marulanda, the FARC`s founder and top leader for 40 years or so, in May, it has significantly lost its influence.