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Viewing cable 08BOGOTA2403, COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES,

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BOGOTA2403 2008-07-03 00:20 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2403 1850020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030020Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3439
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0644
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL 9536
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6323
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1955
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1331
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6995
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4482
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1549
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BOGOTA 002403 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES, 
INGRID BETANCOURT 
 
ΒΆ1.  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 an 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