Two Female Hostages Freed by Colombian FARC Rebels

On Thursday, hostages Clara Rojas, a lawyer and political aide and Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo, a former Columbian lawmaker, were released in a deal mediated by Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez and overseen by the Red Cross, from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC). The New York Times has reported them to be South America's largest Rebel group.

According to The Times, President Chavez used the government's media machine to spotlight his success in negotiating the freedom for the two women by televising live reunions between the women and family members.

BBC News reported that Roja's 3-year-old son, Emmanuel, fathered by one of her rebel captors, was taken from her when the boy was 8 months old and is now in foster care in Bogotá, Columbia. She revealed that her son (named because "he is God's gift") was born on April 16, 2004. DNA tests performed earlier this month confirmed what Rojas has claimed.

In an interview broadcasted on Colombian radio, Rojas said about giving birth as a captive, "They did a Caesarean, and I was in recuperation for 40 days without moving, without being able to get out of bed." BBC reported that after birth, Rojas was only allowed to see him for a few hours a day until he was 8 months, then taken away due to illness and a problem with his arm. She confirmed reports that Emmanuel's arm was broken during childbirth.

Times reporter Simon Romero reported that Perdomo, also experienced hardship as a jungle captive. Two years earlier, while she was still a hostage, Perdomo's husband, Jairo Perdomo, died of a heart attack.

According to a Q&A article posted on the BBC News website, the release of these two women is the first important breakthrough in years in the conflict between the Columbian government and left-wing rebels who have been at war since the 1960's.

In 2007, Columbian President Alvaro Uribe released some rebel prisoners as a "goodwill gesture" as the FARC wants to exchange their hostages, estimated to be up to 800, including former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, for about 500 guerrillas imprisoned in Columbian jails, the article reported.

Among the several hundred hostages, both BBC News and The Times stated, were three US military contractors; Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell; employed by Northrop Grumman, who were captured in 2003 after their plane crashed.

It is reported by several news entities that FARC funds their rebel activities through ransoms and drug trafficking. Some of the FARC hostages have been captive for 10 years.