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List of hostages rescued: Updated ranks and branches of military personnel
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* [[Keith Stansell]]
* [[Keith Stansell]]
* [[Thomas Howes]]
* [[Thomas Howes]]
* Lieutenant Juan Carlos Bermeo (Colombian Army)
* Lieutenant Juan Carlos Bermeo ([[Colombian Army]])
* Sut Raimanduo Malagón (Colombian National Police)
* Lieutenant Raimundo Malagón (Colombian Army)
* Sergeant José Ricardo Marulanda (Colombian Army)
* Sergeant José Ricardo Marulanda (Colombian Army)
* Corporal William Pérez (Colombian Army)
* Sergeant Erasmo Romero (Colombian Army)
* Sergeant Erasmo Romero (Colombian Army)
* Corporal William Pérez (Colombian Army)
* Corporal José Miguel Arteaga (Colombian Army)
* Corporal José Miguel Arteaga (Colombian Army)
* Corporal Armando Florez (Colombian Army)
* Corporal Armando Florez (Colombian Army)
* Corporal Julio Buitrago (Colombian Army)
* Lieutenant Vaney Rodríguez ([[Colombian National Police]])
* Corporal Jhon Jairo Durán (Colombian National Police)
* Corporal Julio Buitrago (Colombian National Police)
* Subintendente Armando Castellanos (Colombian National Police)
* Subintendente Armando Castellanos (Colombian National Police)
* Lieutenant Vaney Rodríguez (Colombian Army)
* Jhon Jairo Durán (Colombian National Police)


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 04:15, 3 July 2008

Operation Jaque was a Colombian military operation to rescue hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on July 2, 2008 along the Apaporis River in Guaviare province.[1] It resulted in the successful liberation of 15 hostages: former presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt, American military contractors Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves, and eleven Colombian security personnel.[2] The operation's title comes from the Spanish word for check, as in checkmate.[1]

Operation

This operation began in February 2008 when Colombian intelligence infiltrated the FARC and eventually the Commanding Chain of the rebels, influencing the rebels to transfer the three groups of hostages to Alfonso Cano's hiding place. The hostages waited for the helicopters that were to transfer them, but were surprised since they had initially expected they were going to be part of a prisoner exchange and not just transported to another location, like their captors informed them.[1] In the air, the rebels who traveled with them were subdued as the men announced "We are with the army, you are free."[1]

Hostage's View of the Rescue

According to Betancourt, the hostages were moved early on the morning of July 2 across the river to a landing zone where they were told by their captors that they were going to be moved to a different location. Two helicopters of men wearing shirts of Che Guevara landed to pick up the hostages, and after being handcuffed and loaded aboard they took off.[3] The FARC guards were subsequently subdued and once in the air the hostages were informed of their rescue, stating "We are with the army, you are free."[1]

Aftermath

International reactions

  •  Chile: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet praised the, saying that: "This is a victory for democracy, peace and freedom."[4]
  •  France: French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke by telephone with Alvaro Uribe on the night before the operation. He later thanked Uribe and gave a live news conference with the children and sister of Íngrid Betancourt on the night of July 2. Immediately after the family and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner boarded a French jet for Colombia.[5] Various French political figures also expressed their relief with the rescue.[6] In Paris some drivers honked their horns on the night of the rescue, and a public celebration is scheduled for July 3.[1]
  •  United States: U.S. President George W. Bush praised and thanked Uribe, [4] and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was delighted with the rescue of the three American hostages.[7]
  •  Australia: Narrogin Observer journalist Stuart Horton lauded the efforts of Uribe and said the entire Narrogin community was delighted with the safe return of loved ones to friends and family.

List of hostages rescued

  • Íngrid Betancourt
  • Marc Gonsalves
  • Keith Stansell
  • Thomas Howes
  • Lieutenant Juan Carlos Bermeo (Colombian Army)
  • Lieutenant Raimundo Malagón (Colombian Army)
  • Sergeant José Ricardo Marulanda (Colombian Army)
  • Sergeant Erasmo Romero (Colombian Army)
  • Corporal William Pérez (Colombian Army)
  • Corporal José Miguel Arteaga (Colombian Army)
  • Corporal Armando Florez (Colombian Army)
  • Lieutenant Vaney Rodríguez (Colombian National Police)
  • Corporal Jhon Jairo Durán (Colombian National Police)
  • Corporal Julio Buitrago (Colombian National Police)
  • Subintendente Armando Castellanos (Colombian National Police)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Padgett, Tim (2008-07-02). "Colombia's Stunning Hostage Rescue". TIME. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  2. ^ "Betancourt, 14 others freed by Colombian forces". Monsters and Critics. 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  3. ^ "Betancourt, U.S. contractors rescued from FARC". CNN. 2008-07-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |accessate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b BBC News:Reaction to Betancourt's Release - Retrieved on 2008-07-03
  5. ^ Romero, Simon (2008-07-03). "15 hostages held by Colombian rebels are rescued". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  6. ^ "Soulagement après la libération d'Ingrid Betancourt" (in French). Le Monde. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  7. ^ "Rice 'delighted' at Colombia hostage rescue". AFP. 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-02.