Colombia: Rescue mission could occur on Thursday

Update (10 January): According to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez have been freed and are en route to Caracas where they will reunite with their families.

Yesterday we commented over the uncertainty of a rescue mission to free two high-profile Colombian hostages despite the efforts of an international commission and the International Red Cross (IRC). However, the operation appears to be back on track based on several developments over the past twelve hours.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that he received the coordinates in the Colombian jungle for the handover of Clara Rojas (image) and Consuelo Gonzalez from the FARC rebel group. According to El Tiempo’s website:

“We have received from the FARC the coordinates in the Colombian mountains where Clara and Consuelo are located because, thank God, (Clara’s son) Emmanuel is safe and in Bogotá” declared Chavez. – [ed. Personal translation]

In response to Chavez’ announcement, the Colombian government gave permission for Venezuelan helicopters to be redeployed in Colombian territory and for the IRC to oversee the rescue mission.

Rojas and Gonzalez could be freed as early as tomorrow, and it may be possible for Rojas to be reunited with her three-year-old son, Emmanuel. (According to RCN, a Spanish lab confirmed that a boy handed over to child welfare authorities in 2005 was Emmanuel Rojas. It was previously thought that he was in his mother’s custody after being born while she was kidnapped).

Sources (English)- Bloomberg, Monsters & Critics, Reuters, The Latin Americanist

Sources (Spanish)- RCN, El Tiempo

Image- CNN