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Caribbean-Latin America
FARC might cough up hostages (to stay alive)
2008-05-25
IN ANNOUNCEMENTS that have sent shockwaves through the region, Colombia has said that the leader of Latin America's longest-running insurgency is dead, and that some of its leaders are ready to free the high-profile hostage Ingrid Betancourt.

The President, Alvaro Uribe, said he had heard from some leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who were ready to surrender and free hostages. In a potential breakthrough, just after Colombia confirmed the death of Manuel Marulanda, Mr Uribe said "the Government has received calls from the FARC in which some of the leaders announced their decision to leave the FARC and hand over Ingrid Betancourt if their freedom is guaranteed.

"The Government's answer is 'yes, they are guaranteed freedom' [if they hand over hostages]", Mr Uribe said.

In a speech carried live on national television on Saturday, he said FARC leaders who free the captives could be turned over to authorities from "France, so that they enjoy that freedom there".
"You can have 'em, we don't want 'em!"
Mr Uribe also touted the Government's offer to reward rebels up to a total of $US100 million ($104 million) when they turn themselves in alongside one or more hostages.
Being a revolutionary isn't as much fun as it used to be, I take it. You have to live in a gawdfersaken jungle, deal with the bugs, unreliable allies, always worried about money and ammo, losing support of the rural population, and now facing a newly competent military that wants to kill you and just might be able to make it happen. Yup, the Riviera is starting to look good right about now ...
Aside from Ms Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician who was seized in 2002 while campaigning for the Colombian presidency, FARC guerillas are holding three US nationals and dozens of Colombian police and military staff. They want to swap the hostages for about 500 imprisoned comrades, including three in US jails.
Posted by:Steve White

#6  What is to stop FARC from pulling a hostage taking a week? The fact that they have lost the majority of their leadership, 2/3 of their experienced troops and weapons, their no-go areas, and the fact that the Columbian military is killing them is small lots every day of the week.
Also, the hostages that are being discussed have been in FARC's hands for YEARS, not weeks. And the offer is for the grand poobahs of FARC to get the hell out of Dodge, not for the rank and file. The little guys and gals are being betrayed and left to rot in jungles by their "leadership".
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2008-05-25 21:48  

#5  They got the #2 back in March.
Posted by: gromky   2008-05-25 18:53  

#4  George Smiley: /the veal, it good.

"the veal" ..aaa.. well.. I took mine home and used it to shim the wobbly table. it good!
Posted by: RD   2008-05-25 17:05  

#3  "the Government has received calls from the FARC in which some of the leaders announced their decision to leave the FARC and hand over Ingrid Betancourt if their freedom is guaranteed.

"The Government's answer is 'yes, they are guaranteed freedom' [if they hand over hostages]", Mr Uribe said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Couldn't da Gubmint drive a slightly harder bargain?

For it reads as if the Government was more desperate to capitulate than the FARC?

Columbia may have just made the worstus bargain ever.. Youse decide..

Whats to prevent the vast remnants of FARC from kidnapping and ransoming their group of hostages and then retiring in Yourope... ad nauseum..?
Posted by: RD   2008-05-25 17:01  

#2  Didn't the grand olde fart of FARC shuffle off last March?


/the veal, it good.
Posted by: George Smiley   2008-05-25 14:35  

#1  They want to swap the hostages for about 500 imprisoned comrades, including three in US jails

NO.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-05-25 14:23  

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