They’re Home: Three American Hostages Rescued by Colombian Military

So near and yet so far, for so long.

Fifteen hostages were rescued from FARC, the left wing guerilla organization in Columbia that has used abduction and holding of hostages to finance and further their bloody guerilla war.

Three American hostages, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were amongst those rescued.

The men who had been held hostage for five years, arrived safely in Texas late Wednesday after being rescued by Colombian military forces. The three men were military contractors for the US government reportedly doing photo surveillance of the cocaine trade. They were captured when their plane went down, and the pilot and a Colombian adviser were assassinated on the spot by FARC.

There have been numerous pleas from governments, heads of state, families from France, USA, Colombia and other countries to FARC to release their hostages, but to no avail.

The number of hostages still held by FARC currently number over 750 persons.

Below is a picture of another hostage freed today, Ingrid Betancourt who was seized six years ago while campaigning to become President of Colombia. She said, she did not at first realize that they were rescued by the national Colombian military; she thought they were being moved by FARC until she saw the commandante who had been her jailer for years, handcuffed and naked on the floor of the plane, and the leader of the national military announced who they were and that the hostages were now free. At the news conference held early this morning, Miss Betancourt made the Sign of the Cross with several others in military camouflage, thanking The Blessed Mother Mary for hearing her prayer to be freed.

It might be interesting to see what Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has to say about Colombian military’s raid on the FARC camp… and how the world will respond to his role in this, if any. Today’s situation is not a release but a rescue, yet despite Chavez having made many enemies worldwide, he has also made public statements telling FARC they ought release their hostages.

It is notable that in the world of ‘old Communists’ …women often rise up to speak vociferously against the regime, and sometimes decide they want to, not just overthrow a junta, but also run the entire country. Miss Betancourt’s fate as hostage over the last six years is reminiscent of dictator’s Than Shwe of Burma’s constant holding the democratically elected Aun San Suu Kyi under arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.

There might be a long road ahead for the freed hostages. Coming suddenly home to their families, literally within 48 hours, will no doubt have a time ahead needed for psychological adjustment. The quickness of transition from dark jungle to 4th of July, can be a little like the ‘bends,’ psychologically. The kind of Post-trauma stress they will have endured, will differ in some details from those experienced by men in armed battle…but with family care, and psychological and spiritual care, they are likely to be able to make adjustments that will hold. There are some medical issues also; jungle living is hard, and adequate protein often hard to come by, and bad water too easily available.

On a very bright note: One of the former hostages has two children he has never seen: five year old sons.

Difficulties. But also happiness ahead.