Clara Rojas
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Clara Leticia Rojas González (born December 20, 1964, Bogotá) is a Colombian tax lawyer, university lecturer, and campaign manager for former senator and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. She was kidnapped along with Betancourt by the FARC guerrilla group near San Vicente del Caguán on February 23, 2002, while Betancourt was campaigning for the presidency. After the kidnapping, Rojas was named as Betancourt's vice-presidential candidate.
In 2006, it was revealed that Rojas had given birth to a boy named Emmanuel while in captivity. The father was said to be a FARC guerrilla.
Rojas had last been seen publicly in a video released by the guerrilla group in 2003. However, on January 10, 2008, Rojas and former congresswoman Consuelo González were freed after six years in captivity. [1]
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[edit] Operation Emmanuel
On December 27, 2007, the FARC guerrilla group was said to be planning the imminent release of Rojas together with her son and congresswoman Consuelo González in a one-sided prisoner release negotiated by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez.
Chavez planned their release in an operation dubbed Operation Emmanuel, using Venezuelan aircraft and with the support of the Red Cross.
[edit] Emmanuel
In an unexpected development the Colombian President Álvaro Uribe stated that there was information about the child being held by the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) on December 31, 2007. On January 2, 2008 a child who is allegedly the son of Clara Rojas was confirmed in custody by the institution. On January 4 according to the Colombian Government the child was subjected to a mitochondrial DNA test. According to the Institute of Legal Medicine of Colombia, the test verified that he is in fact the son of Clara Rojas.[1] This information was subsequently confirmed as accurate by FARC. Emmanuel had become ill as a baby, and Rojas had allowed her son to be taken to a doctor for care on the condition that he would be returned to her. Instead, he was placed into the care of a peasant who did not know to whom the child belonged.
There has been a great deal of criticism regarding the way in which both the Colombian government and FARC have handled the situation.[citation needed]
[edit] Release
After being temporarily suspended, the operation resumed and, on January 10, 2008, a humanitarian commission headed by the International Committee of the Red Cross flew in two Venezuelan helicopters to a location in Colombia that had been designated by FARC the previous day. Rojas and González were then released to the care of the commission.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] On January 13, 2008, Clara Rojas was reunited with her son, Emmanuel; the first time she had seen her son after being parted from him for more than two years.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Noticias políticas de Colombia - ELTIEMPO.COM -> Niño en poder de Gobierno sí es el hijo de Clara Rojas; así se confirma tesis de Uribe de por qué las Farc no liberaron rehenes
- ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/373967.html
- ^ AFP: Colombian hostages freed, reunited with families
- ^ CNN: Freed hostages in Venezuela
- ^ Financial Times: Farc hands over female hostages
- ^ Guardian Unlimited: Chávez wins freedom for Colombian hostages
- ^ International Herald Tribune2 hostages are released by Colombian guerrillas
- ^ BBC News: Freed hostages land in Venezuela
- ^ Yahoo News: 2 hostages freed by Colombian rebels
- ^ New York Times: Colombian Rebels Free 2 Hostages
- ^ Reuters: Colombia rebels free two hostages from jungle
- ^ Usa Today -video-: Columbian rebels free 2 hostages
