Colombia’s defense ministry has announced that a rescue mission carried out in the jungle has resulted in four hostages being killed by their FARC captors.
Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon reported that the four military hostages that had been held for 14 years by FARC guerillas were shot in cold blood. One of the reported victims was identified as Army Sargeant Libio Jose Martinez, Colombia’s longest-held hostage. A fifth captive hostage was found alive in the same area some time later. Luis Alberto Erazao Maya, a national police officer, survived because he ran off and hid in the jungle when he heard the gun fire.
The rescue operation started 45 days earlier when Colombian intelligence sources became aware of where certain FARC guerillas were and that they were holding hostages. The rescue mission was executed on Saturday, and after a brief gun battle the hostages were found with gunshots to the head or back.
Only one rebel FARC was arrested after the rescue mission, many others fled and are being sought by the government.
FARC is the country’s oldest and largest rebel group.
