Historic Information: John Frank Pinchao, Escaped from same Camp where some of the 15 Hostages were Held
John Frarnk Pinchao was captured during a FARC raid in the town of Mitu in 1998 with almost 60 other fellow policemen. Although all these almost 60 captives were promised freedom by their captors in 1999, only the lower-rank policemen and military captured by the FARC were released during the failed peace process, in fact the prisoners were kept in the demilitarized zone.
The Three American Hostages Held for more than 5 Years and Rescued in Operation Jaque
Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, and Thomas Howes were the three American contractors that were kidnapped by FARC in February 2003 while they were consulting for the Colombian Government on Coca fields eradication. Their plane was shot down by FARC rebels who operated the same Coca fields they were helping eradicate. In this interview by CNN's Robin Meade, they talk about the inhumane conditions that the terrorist group kept them and many others (a total of more than 750 hostages as to 2008) in a remote jungle of Colombia:
Alias Cesar (Antonio Aguilar) one of the two FARC Guerrillas with his Punched Eye after Operation Jaque
Antonio Aguilar alias "Cesar" was the head jailman for the kidnapped politics, policeman, and Colombian military. He was depicted by his captives as somebody cruel. He was captured on July 2, 2008 during operation Jaque. The FARC rebel commanders later claimed he deserted their cause which is known not to be the case
Keith Stansell and Raimundo Malagon just minutes after being Freed in the Operation Jaque Helicopter
Keith Stansell and Raimundo Malagon just minutes after being Freed in the Operation Jaque Helicopter. Notice Keith Stansell's right hand is a bit bloody; there is the possibility that he might have hurt his hand while in the jungle, but there is also the change that he might have given his captor alias "Cesar" his black eye. A black eye in reality is not enough of a price to pay for 5 years of inhumane treatment and captivity in the Jungles of Colombia.
Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes just Minutes after being Freed while in the MI-8 Russian Helicopter
Marc Gonsalves gives a thumbs up while he talks with Thomas Howes just Minutes after being Freed while in the MI-8 Russian Helicopter in Operation Jaque. Marc Goncalves and Thomas Howes were both American contractors that were captured by the FARC (Spanish letters for Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - a self proclaimed Marxist terrorist group from Colombia).
Armando Castellanos only Minutes after being Rescued in Operation Jaque Helicopter
Armando Castellanos Gaona, sublieutenant of the Colombian National Police Nacional, just minutes after being freed by the Colombian Military Operation from 9 years of inhumane captivity in the Jungles of Colombia
Ingrid Betancourt just Minutes after Finding She had been Freed in Operation Jaque inside MI-8 Helicopter
This image shows Ingrid Betancourt inside the rescue helicopter just minutes after she found out She had been rescued in Operation Jaque. She is sending a kiss to the Camera in a show of Gratitute.
Summary Video of Operation Jaque shows Ingrid Betancourt and the three American Contractors
| This is one of the earliest videos by the Associated Press about the Operation Jaque that shows the degraded health state in which Ingrid Betancourt was a few months before being rescued, and it shows her minutes after arriving at the Colombian military airport. At the airport, she was calling her Mother and telling her how proud she was of the Colombian Army who had just rescued her. Dr. Betancourt was one of the harshest opposers of Presiden Uribe just after his Election, but after living for six (6!) years in the Jungle under inhumane conditions, and the abuse of the FARC rebels she became a supporter of the current Colombian government policy which has brought the FARC to its hardest times. Betancourt's change of heart shows she is a person who can accept being wrong and probably puts Colombia, her Country above |
Amazing Alternte version of Operation Jaque
| According to Narsiso Isa Conde, the FARC rebels who kept some of the hostages under inhuman conditions (some for over ten years) were planning to unilaterally release these hostages and the Colombian Military stole the glory from the FARC terrorists. The RCN reporter then shows a video where Narsiso Isa Conde is shown in FARC uniform sitting next to Ivan Marquez, one of the highest FARC liders. Mr. Isa Conde defends himself by claiming that Ingrid Betancourt, the highest profile hostage also wore a camouflaged uniform while she was captive during the six years she was held against her will. The reporter immediatly interviews a representant of the French Embassy in Bogota who reveals that the claims by Mr. Isa Conde that a French and a Suize emissaries had negotiated the release of the hostages with the FARC leader Alfonso Cano. The French Embassy representant denies the claims and explains that there was no direct meeting, and that nothing was achieved in that opportunity. |
Helicopter used to Trick the FARC Guerillas in Operation Jaque Side
The helicopter was painted Red and white so that it looked as an unspecified Non Government Organization (NGO). A lot of emphasis was given to the fact that the NGO was generic; this is because using logos of any organization could have damaged their credibility. However, the make and model of the Rusian helicopter is very similar to those used by the Venezuelan Army in a previous release of 6 hostages in a highly publicized event which the recently freed hostages qualified as a "media circus". Helicopter used to Trick the FARC Guerillas in Operation Jaque.
