Washington - The three US nationals held for five years by
leftist rebels in Colombia were undergoing medical treatment in the
US state of Texas on Thursday, a day after being rescued along with
12 other hostages including former presidential candidate Ingrid
Betancourt.
Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves were brought back
from Colombia by military plane late Wednesday night and taken to an
Army hospital near San Antonio, Texas, where they were expected to be
reunited with family members later Thursday.
'I was always hopeful that this day would happen. It seemed like a
miracle that this day would happen and now it's happening,' George
Gonsalves, Marc's father, told US broadcaster CNN.
The three men were kidnapped by the leftist Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC)in February 2003 after their plane crashed
during a reconnaissance mission in southern Colombia.
Also with them at the time were fellow-US citizen Thomas Janis and
Colombian Army sergeant Luis Alcides Cruz, both of whom were
reportedly executed by the rebels soon after the crash.
The group had been under contract with the US Department of
Defence and were assisting in Colombian anti-drug operations in the
volatile region. It remains unknown whether the crash was due to a
mechanical failure or if the plane was brought down by FARC.
All three had been reported in poor health as a result of injuries
suffered from the crash and from tropical diseases contracted during
their time in captivity, according to accounts by other hostages that
had been released in the past.
'Thomas suffered a cut to the head which causes him frequent
headaches, and he has a hypertension problem with very little medical
treatment. Marc also has spine and knee problems as a result of the
accident, as well as many tropical illnesses,' Luis Eladio Perez, a
former Colombian legislator, said when he was released in February.
Television footage showed the three walking off the military
plane from Colombia on their own power on Wednesday night. They ree
could attend a press conference later today at the Army hospital
when, at the very least, an update on their medical condition will be
given.
'Medical professionals at the Brooke Army Medical Center will give
them the best care possible until the reintegration process is
complete,' the US Army South, the military division responsible for
their care and debriefing, said in a statement.
Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves were rescued Wednesday, along with
Betancourt and 11 others, as part of a rescue operation by Colombian
forces that had been planned with help from the US military.
Undercover Colombian soldiers tricked rebels into allowing the 15
hostages to board a military plane, which promptly took them out of
the jungle.
'This rescue was long in the planning, and we've been working with
the Colombians for five years, since the hostages were taken, to free
them from captivity,' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
The three men worked for California Microwave Systems, a
subsidiary of defence giant Northrop Grumman, which said it was
'extremely pleased' its employees were free and looked forward to
seeing them return to their families.
'The company is grateful for the outstanding efforts of the
Colombian and US governments that resulted in the freedom of its
coworkers and other Colombian citizens,' Northrop said Wednesday
night.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story