2 longterm FARC hostages rescued today

[ROVER]

Hot off the press form Colombia Reports



Army rescues FARC hostages General Mendieta and Colonel Murillo

Sunday, 13 June 2010 14:26 Camilla Pease-Watkin


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Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Sunday announced the rescue of FARC hostages General Luis Mendieta, who spent the last twelve years in captivity, and Colonel Enrique Murillo.
According to reports, the rescue operation was carried out by members of the national army in the southern Colombian department of Guaviare.
President Uribe made this announcement, "The Joint Operations Command of our armed forces has just rescued General Luis Mendieta and Colonel Murillo. We are fighting in the jungles of Guaviare to get them out unharmed. Already both are being held by our forces and our forces are still fighting there. It is a very difficult operation that has being going on for months. They have killed one of our sergeants. Already both General Mendieta and Colonel Murillo are safe, held by the armed forces and we continue to fight their in an attempt to rescue the others."
Uribe went on to thank the country's armed forces and their commander, Oscar Naranjo, for their part in the rescue mission.
"General, many thanks, and all the congratulations to the country's soldiers and police. For this we Colombians must love our soldiers and police, support them, embrace them," said the president.
General Mendieta and Colonel Murillo will be taken to the Barrancon military bass in San Jose de Guaviare, where their families will be brought to see them.
General Mendieta spent the last twelve years in FARC captivity, the longest time of any of the hostages. Mendieta was promoted whilst in captivity from Colonel to General. The day of the rescue operation marked the soldier's 53rd birthday.

[BlueDevil]

That's a long time to be kept in a jungle at gunpoint. I'm surprised the two hostages weren't killed during the rescue operation (as many hostages are.)