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id: 160665
date: 7/3/2008 11:28
refid: 08BOGOTA2406
origin: Embassy Bogota
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
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DE RUEHBO #2406 1851128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031128Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
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INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0646
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL 9538
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6325
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1333
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6997
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4484
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1551
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
----------------- header ends ----------------
UNCLAS BOGOTA 002406
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CU FR VZ CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES,
INGRID BETANCOURT
1. Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced on July
2 that the Colombian military had rescued American hostages
Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, along with
Ingrid Betancourt and eleven members of the Colombian
security forces, from the FARC. Military intelligence
rescued the hostages from an area south of San Jose de
Guaviare in a secret operation titled "Operation Jaque."
Santos said the unprecedented operation incurred no injuries
or deaths. He added that the Colombian military had
"infiltrated" the FARC Secretariat, as well as the FARC's
First Front which was holding the hostages, as part of the
operation. Santos called on all FARC to lay down their arms
and demobilize. The Colombian military also captured two FARC
members, including First Front commander Gerardo Antonio
Aguilar, alias "Cesar," and Alexander Farfan, alias "Enrique
Gafas." Santos said the military would hand "Cesar" over to
Colombian judicial authorities. The American hostages are
wheels up at 6:15 PM en route to the United States tonight.
BROWNFIELD
=======================CABLE ENDS============================