Colombian hostage break-through closer
by MC Staff Writer

Keith Stansell (Right) sits with Captor (Left) at an undisclosed location in southern Colombia

A CNN report Wednesday, December 26, indicated that a number of hostages now held by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) have a good chance of being released if negotiations continue as they are going.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez threatened to sever trade relations with Columbia last month to the tune of $5 billion in trade, due to disagreements with his counterpart in Columbia. Alvaro Uribe moved to end Chavez's negotiating the release of hostages held by FARC rebels.

President Uribe stated that he made the decision to end talks of prisoner exchanges after President Chavez spoke directly with Colombia's arm chief, against his wishes.

Leaders of Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and France, along with Venezuela have also been negotiating to win the release of at least 46 prominent rebel held hostages. These including French- Colombian Betan and U.S. defense contractors Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell, who were captured when their surveillance plane was downed in 2003. Howes and Gonsalves are from Florida. Stansell is from Georgia.

The rebel group FARC have stated that none of the hostages would never be released except in exchange of prisoners held by the Columbian government.

In an earlier interview with the prisoners, including Stansell, all urged that a rescue attempt would be their death sentence. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said three hostages held by FARC could be in Venezuela by sundown, if an operation to transfer them begins Thursday morning, according to a recent CNN report.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez explains details about a possible release of the hostages. At least two Venezuelan helicopters bearing the symbol of the International Red Cross were ready to fly to an undisclosed location in Colombia to retrieve the hostages, Chavez said.

The Colombian government must guarantee safe passage to the left-wing FARC rebels who participate in the handoff, he added.

It was not immediately clear when the operation would begin. However, Chavez described Colombia's agreement as the last step before the operation to free the hostages would begin.

FARC has held the hostages for years. It's been mired in a complex and long-running civil war that also has involved right-wing paramilitaries, government forces and drug traffickers.

Chavez said he hoped the FARC would free Betancourt and other hostages next.

It is the hopes and prayers of families and friends of the hostages that the negotiations to release the captives will be forthcoming and they will all be at their homes and in their countries by the time this news release is made.