Chavez awaiting Colombian 'green light' for hostage handover; Uribe considering next move

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Chavez awaiting Colombian 'green light' for hostage handover; Uribe considering next move
CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer

December 26, 2007 11:30 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that three rebel hostages including a mother and her young son could be freed within hours if the Colombian government allows Venezuelan planes and helicopters across the border to pick them up.

''The only thing we need is the authorization of the Colombian government,'' Chavez announced at a news conference in the presidential palace. ''We are ready to activate the humanitarian operation.''

Chavez said he hopes it would be completed ''in the coming hours,'' and that if all goes well, the hostages could be on Venezuelan soil by sundown Thursday.
(snip)

Chavez said his proposal has received backing from the leaders of Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Cuba, France and Brazil. He also said Argentine President Cristina Fernandez had expressed willingness to fly in to help if necessary.



Read more: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565146009123292225

[fascisthunter]

1. Hope It Goes Well (nt)

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia accepts Venezuela plan for hostage release

Colombia accepts Venezuela plan for hostage release
26 Dec 2007 20:08:53 GMT
Source: Reuters


BOGOTA, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Colombia agreed on Wednesday to allow Venezuelan aircraft to land in the country to pick up three hostages held for years by leftist guerrillas, including a child born in captivity.

The plan to help free the captives was proposed earlier on Wednesday by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a left-winger who has been negotiating with Colombia's Marxist guerrillaleaders.

Colombia's foreign minister, Fernando Araujo, told reporters the government had authorized Chavez's plan.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26365618.htm

[bemildred]

3. Cross your fingers.

Let's hope nobody gets cute.

[Judi Lynn]

7. It would be the perfect place for all hell to break out, wouldn't it?

It's so doubtful Uribe would EVER want it to be successful.

Any step closer to peace means he gives up his VAST yearly load of American foreign aid: third largest in the world. He's never been without all the time he's been in office for his unprecedented second term as he works on securing his own THIRD term with complete approval from the U.S. right-wing, all corporate media, and with no expressed opposition from his own country.

[nitpicker]

4. I saw the france24 commentary while Chavez was speaking

One local TV station features foriegn news relays (along with foriegn films and so on). The France 24 commentator had on someone from some think tank that was explaining that Chavez had been canned from the negotiator position by Uribe on November 23 for getting too chummy with the FARC, so that then Chavez had been drumming up support from Castro and the Argentinian president to get Chavez back in charge of having this deal go through. The think tanker claimed that Chavez wanted to have himself viewed as being more-important on the international stage, after the problems last month of both being fired and of losing the referendum attempt to allow him to run for another term.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Anyone who has bothered to stay awake and do any research at all knows that's crap.

Hardly worth repeating, obviously.

[High Plains]

6. Well, it's true that Colombia put the kibosh on the negotiations last month.

But that think-tanker imputing motives to Chavez and then impugning them is just spin.

If Chavez can win freedom for Ingrid Betancourt (I assume she is one of the prisoners being talked about), he will deserve any accolades coming his way.

Now, what about those three American Dyncorp mercenaries? Seems like they've been POWs for several years now.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Sure, they have. They've been hauled around for a long time!

The talks about releasing the hostages with Chavez's help started a long time ago, also: well before the referendum some idiots have attempted to claim is somehow connected to this completely unrelated situation.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Colombia authorizes Venezuela to cross border to recover rebel hostages

Colombia authorizes Venezuela to cross border to recover rebel hostages

Published: 12.26.07, 22:28 / Israel News

Colombia's foreign minister said Wednesday that the government has authorized Venezuela to move forward with a ''humanitarian mission'' to recover three hostages held by Colombian rebels.

Fernando Araujo said his government named Colombia' top peace negotiator, Luis Carlos Restrepo, as its delegate to an international commission of observers to oversee the hostages' liberation. A letter Araujo sent to his Venezuelan counterpart said the Venezuelan planes and helicopters would have to carry Red Cross insignia ''for constitutional reasons'' but that the Colombian government has agreed to Chavez's terms for the mission, and thanks the Venezuelan leader for his efforts. (AP)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3487209,00.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On edit, adding AFP notice:

Bogota gives nod to Chavez plan for hostage release
26/12/2007 20h12

Hugo Chavez(L) speaks after a press conference with Piedad Cordoba
©AFP - Juan BarretoBOGOTA (AFP) - The Colombian government on Wednesday gave its approval to a plan by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez aimed at freeing three hostages held by Colombian Marxist rebels, the foreign ministry said.

"The government of Colombia authorizes the humanitarian mission in the terms of its missive and delegates as its representative Luis Carlos Restrepo (High Commissioner for the Peace)," said Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo.

"For constitutional reasons, the aircraft employed in this humanitarian mission should carry the emblems of the International Red Cross," he added.

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071226201257.l5enbl4i.html

[Judi Lynn]

10. Colombia accepts hostage release plan

Colombia accepts hostage release plan
Dec 26, 2007, 21:08 GMT
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur)

Bogota - The government of Colombia on Wednesday agreed to a humanitarian operation that would see three high profile hostages released by left-wing rebels - a plan mediated and proposed by the government of Venezuela.

The government delegated Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo to be its representative at the handover, Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said at a televised news conference.

Venezuela would send helicopters into Colombian territory to release the three hostages held by the country's largest terrorist group, the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Intense negotiations have been ongoing for months, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mediating with FARC, who have been holding hundreds of hostages, including high profile politicians and police officials, some of them for years.

More:
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/americas/news/article_1383267.php/Colombia_accepts_hostage_release_plan__Roundup_

[Judi Lynn]

11. Venezuela suggests airlift for planned Colombia hostage release

Venezuela suggests airlift for planned Colombia hostage release


www.chinaview.cn 2007-12-27 05:56:04

CARACAS, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez publicly proposed on Wednesday sending helicopters from several nations to pick up the three people scheduled for release by Colombia's largest guerrilla group FARC.

Chavez said that several aircraft, including helicopters painted with Red Cross symbols, are ready to leave from the Venezuelan border and land "at some place" in Colombia, possibly Villavicencio.

"Let's hope that in the next few hours the freeing of Clara Rojas, Consuelo Gonzalez and the child Emmanuel will be made reality," Chavez told reporters. If so, they will spend New Year with their families, he added.

France, Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela will each send envoys aboard the aircraft. Chavez said the following names had already been confirmed: Ecuadorian former interior minister Gustavo Larrea and Marco Aurelio Garcia, foreign policy advisor to Brazil's president.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/27/content_7319268.htm

What a great idea, sending emmisaries from each of these countries on this mission. Although Colombia, as a right-wing controlled country, and third largest foreign aid recipient of the U.S., a country wanting to keep every thing EXACTLY as it is for the oligarchy's future, surely even this country knows it could bring more trouble than it's worth if it shoots down a plane full of people representing these leftist governments (with France the exception, of course).

[NashVegas]

12. BBC Link

Chavez Farc hostage plan approved

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7160772.stm

[cal04]

13. Chavez: Venezuela to Pick Up Hostages

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7179902,00.html

Colombia agreed Wednesday to allow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send his planes and helicopters into its territory to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels.

(snip)
Araujo said his government was appointing Colombia's top peace negotiator, Luis Carlos Restrepo, as its delegate to an international committee of observers to oversee the hostages' liberation.

The hostages include former Colombian congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez and Clara Rojas - an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt - and Rojas' young son, Emmanuel, reportedly born of a relationship with a guerrilla fighter.


Chavez: Venezuela to pick up hostages
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071226/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_colombia_hostages

[Judi Lynn]

14. Hostages could be freed today, says Chávez

Hostages could be freed today, says Chávez

Chris Toothaker, Associated Press in Caracas
Thursday December 27, 2007
The Guardian

Venezuela had planes and helicopters ready on standby last night to pick up three hostages from inside Colombia as president Hugo Chávez expressed hope they would be freed by rebels by the end of today.
"The only thing we need is the authorisation of the Colombian government," Chávez said at a news conference in the presidential palace. "We are ready to activate the humanitarian operation."

He said the hostages could be freed by the end of today once the Colombians give approval for Venezuelan aircraft to cross the border.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,2232265,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

[Judi Lynn]

15. Hostage’s husband calls for dialogue

Hostage’s husband calls for dialogue
Published: Thursday, 27 December, 2007, 03:37 AM Doha Time

BUENOS AIRES: The husband of prominent French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt yesterday urged Colombia’s president to negotiate with Marxist rebels holding his wife and dozens of others captive.

“For the first time in many years, there has been a goodwill gesture on the part of the guerrillas,” Juan Carlos LeCompte told Argentine radio, referring to the vow by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) this month to release three hostages.

“Thanks be to God, this was a sign for the (Colombian) government to understand that the rebels are prepared to negotiate,” LeCompte said.
Neither Betancourt, who was captured in February 2002, nor three American hostages are among the three prisoners offered up for release by the rebels, who have been trying to strike a deal to swap some 45 captives for 500 prisoners.

The rebels said on December 18 they would free former lawmaker Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo, 57; Betancourt’s aid Clara Rojas, 44; and Emmanuel, 3, the son Rojas bore to a rebel in captivity.

More:
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=192153&version=1&template_id=43&parent_id=19

[cal04]

16. FARC hostages to be freed Friday: envoys

Three hostages held by the Colombian Marxist rebel group FARC are to be freed on Friday, Venezuela's ambassador to Bogota and a Brazilian envoy responsible for monitoring the operation said Thursday.

"The operation will take place tomorrow," Marco Aurelio Garcia, the special envoy of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told CBN radio.

"We have firm hope that this will be the first step in a long process, aimed first at resolving the hostage crisis and secondly at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict that has gripped Colombia for more than 40 years," he said.

Venezuela's ambassador to Colombia, Pavel Rondon, confirmed that the release would take place Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071227/wl_afp/colombiabrazilhostages_071227134723

[Judi Lynn]

17. Hostages freed in Colombia (This headline is completely misleading!)

Hostages freed in Colombia
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, December 27th 2007, 1:42 PM

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Colombia agreed Wednesday to allow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send his planes and helicopters into its territory to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels.

Chavez said he hoped the hostages — including a mother and her young son — could be on Venezuelan soil by sundown Thursday.

Colombia's largest rebel group announced last week that it would unilaterally hand over the three hostages to Chavez, demonstrating the guerrillas' affinity for the socialist leader. It also sidelined U.S.-allied Colombian President Alvaro Uribe by preventing him from assuming a leading role in the release.

Chavez had been trying to negotiate the release of 47 high-profile captives until Uribe abruptly called him off last month, saying Chavez overstepped his mandate by directly contacting the head of Colombia's army.

The Venezuelan leader has since frozen relations with Uribe, whose decision provoked an outcry among relatives of the hostages.

On Wednesday, Colombia said it had authorized the Venezuelan mission, and Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, after conferring with Uribe, thanked Chavez in particular for his efforts.

More:
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2007/12/27/2007-12-27_hostages_freed_in_colombia.html

[Judi Lynn]

18. Chavez: Colombian rebel hostages will be flown to Venezuela

Chavez: Colombian rebel hostages will be flown to Venezuela
By Christopher Toothaker
ASSOCIATED PRESS

7:06 a.m. December 27, 2007

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez prepared to send planes and helicopters into neighboring Colombia to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels.

The hostages' release would be the most important in the Colombian conflict since 2001, when the FARC freed some 300 soldiers and police officers it had captured and held.

Chavez said Wednesday that he hoped the hostages – including a mother and her young son – could be on Venezuelan soil by sundown Thursday, while the international Red Cross said the release could take a few days.

Colombia's largest rebel group announced last week that it would unilaterally hand over the three hostages to Chavez, demonstrating the guerrillas' affinity for the socialist leader.

More:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20071227-0706-venezuela-colombia-hostages.html

[AlphaCentauri]

19. Thank's for the good news Judi

I like Cristina

:)