[R-G] Swiss Radio Says Colombian Hostages Freed by $20 Million Payment and a “Show” Rather than a Rescue

[Anthony Fenton]

http://machetera.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/and-now-a-word-from-the-israeli-extras/



It seems that there is more to the story of the Colombian hostage  
rescue than you were originally told. And it has to do with ransom.

Now, Machetera finds this completely normal because she happens to  
know someone who was taken hostage in Colombia in the ’80’s, and his  
employer (evidently more generous than DynCorp) paid to get him out,  
and in only six months as opposed to five years. And that in turn,  
means of course that as far as the U.S. contractors were concerned,  
and quite frankly Ingrid Betancourt and the other 11 hostages, the  
people who were really keeping them in the jungle all that time were  
not the FARC.

But what she finds interesting about this story is not so much the  
ransom, or even the “media show” which was heavyhanded anyway, but the  
fact that Israelis wereinvolved and can’t keep their mouths shut about  
it.

Swiss Radio Says Colombian Hostages Freed by $20 Million Payment and a  
“Show” Rather than a Rescue

Aporrea/Asdrúbal Guerra

Translation: Machetera

July 4, 2008 - According to various European media reports today, RSR,  
Radio Suisse Romande, the state broadcaster, revealed yesterday that  
the operation through which Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages  
were freed, was obtained through payment and not by skill or  
intelligence of the Colombian and U.S. authorities.

According to an RSR report, “the 15 hostages were actually freed after  
the payment of a large sum, and the operation which followed was  
theatre.”

The RSR journalist Frederich Blassel confirmed that the guerrilla  
known as “César,” one of the two who were captured, received $20  
million dollars in exchange for delivering the hostages.

“It wasn’t a direct negotiation with the FARC, but with a very  
important person from that organization, who is Commandante ‘César,’  
he explained.

Radio Suisse Romande is a state broadcaster which transmits in four  
different languages in Europe.

Blassel added that according to the source, the United States approved  
the payment to the guerrilla. Citing a source close to the events who  
had proven trustworthy on several occasions in recent years, the radio  
also said that the United States government was behind the agreement  
and put the price at $20 million dollars.

“The three North American contractors worked for the FBI and were  
transferred to the DEA to carry out a job and therefore that country  
was highly interested in recovering these citizens. The contact with  
Commandante César was made through his girlfriend who was captured  
some four months ago by the Army.”

With the two guerrillas captured in the operation facing extradition,  
the journalist said that “it sounds strange” but according to his  
information, Switzerland, France and Spain would be disposed to  
receiving the two guerrillas and giving them a new identity in order  
to avoid their extradition to the United States.

The French film director Gil Pérez and an analyst specializing in the  
subject of Colombia also spoke about this in a similar sense, the  
journalist added.

The representative of the national Swiss radio station believes that  
all of this follows the hard line that President Uribe wants to  
maintain facing negotiations with the FARC and for that reason,  
believes that everything was a show.

“If the people knew that this operation was a show behind a  
negotiation, it wouldn’t matter, because Uribe comes out triumphant  
and no matter what, remains the strong man,” he concluded.

The Colombian Foreign Minister denied the version and called the news  
“false.” According to the Colombian General Fredy Padilla de León, the  
stories about payment for rescue are “kicks of a drowning man.”

For its part, the French government denied having been involved in the  
operation.

Support of United States and Israel

The White House has not responded to allegations of payment for  
liberation, but through its spokesperson, confirmed that the military  
operation was “conceived and executed by Colombians with our full  
support.”

For its part, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli  
agents were involved in the operation which resulted in the liberation  
of the hostages but “they believe that the credit should be given to  
Colombia.”

According to the newspaper, the Israeli activities were carried out by  
dozens of security experts and were coordinated by Global CST, the  
private firm belonging to ex-Brigadier General Israel Ziv, and ex- 
Brigadier Yossi Kuperwasser.

“We helped them plan all the operations and strategies, and develop  
intelligence sources,” said Ziv upon his return from Bogotá.

Machetera is a member of Tlaxcala, the network of translators for  
linguistic diversity. This translation may be reprinted as long as the  
content remains unaltered, and the source, author, and translator are  
cited.