FARC Releases 9 “Proof Of Life” Videos To Hostage Families

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC as they are more commonly known, have released video tapes showing proof of life of 9 hostages in their custody–two soldiers and seven policemen. The videos were handed over to left-leaning senator, Piedad Cordoba (pictured), who has helped broker releases of FARC hostages in the past. She urged the Colombian government, during a press conference, to negotiate the hostages’ freedom as soon as possible.

After the families of the hostages viewed the videos, they were broadcast today on Colombian television. Below is moving video of Lance Corporal Libyan Martinez Estrada who has been in FARC custody for for 12 years. In it, he talks to his son Johan, who he reminds that, when he was a boy, he studied hard and loved football. He thanks God for keeping him well this far and prays that he will return home soon.

In this video, after sending love and greetings to his family, an angry Sgt. Arbey Delgado asks President Alvaro Uribe, “Have you forgotten us? Are we just animals?”

All the men have been held over a decade, some of them since 1997. Other Colombian military and police hostages who appeared in the videos are Lieutenant William Donato, Captain Enrique Murillo, Lt. Elkin Hernandez, Sgt. Luis Alberto Erazo, Major Alvaro Moreno and Captain Edgar Duarte Valero.

Pruebas de supervivencia de secuestrados por las Farc [El Tiempo]