Communiqué
Presidency of Colombia
The Government of Colombia informs that:
1. During a Colombian army operation against FARC urban organizations in Bogotá, in coordination with the Prosecution Service Investigation Division CTI, three individuals were surprised in possession of proof of survival of a group of FARC kidnap victims.
This evidence includes five videos, four of which carry recording dates of October 23 and 24, 2007
There are records of
Ingrid Betancourt-Pulecio, video of October 24, 2007
Army Sgt. Erasmo Romero, video of October 23, 2007
Police Lt. Vianey Rodríguez-Porras, video of October 23, 2007
Police Cpl. Julio Cesar Buitrago-Cuesta, video of October 24, 2007
Police Cpl. Jairo Durán-Puerto, video of October 24, 2007
The fifth video is marked as recorded on January 1, 2007. Despite this, Sgt. José Ricardo Marulanda-Valencia says at the beginning of the recording that it was made on October 23.
The following individuals appear in this video:
Mark Goncalves, US Contractor, video of January 1, 2007
Kein Stambler, US Contractor, video of January 1, 2007
Thomas Howes, US Contractor, video of January 1, 2007
Luis Eladio Pérez, video of January 1, 2007
Army Capt. Juan Carlos Bermeo-Covaleda, video of January 1, 2007
Army Cpl. José Miguel Arteaga, video of January 1, 2007
Police Asst. Intendent Armando Castellanos, video of January 1, 2007
Army Lt. Raimundo Malagón-Castellanos, video of January 1, 2007
Army Cpl. William Pérez-Medina, video of January 1, 2007
Army Sgt. José Ricardo Marulanda-Valencia, video of January 1, 2007
Army Sgt. Amaon Flórez-Pantoja, video of January 1, 2007
.
Seven letters were also seized:
From Thomas Howes to Mariana Howes, undated
From Thomas Howes regarding his will, November 26, 2006
From Mark Goncalves for the terrorist Mono Jojoy, October 23, 2007
From Army Lt. Raimundo Malagón for the family of Efraín Malagón, October 23, 2007
From Army Lt. Raimundo Malagón for the family of Stella Malagón, undated
From Army Lt. Raimundo Malagón for President Hugo Chaves, Octoebr 23, 2007
From Ingrid Betancour for her mother, October 24, 2007
There was also a digital memory with photographs of the same kidnap victims listed in this communiqué.
2. This material is currently in the chain of custody with the Investigation Division CTI, subject to appropriate legal controls.
3. This communiqué is issued with the permission of the Attorney General of Colombia, for strictly humanitarian reasons.
4. For humanitarian reasons, relatives of the victims may contact Prosecutor I delegated to the CTI in order to see the material. Representatives of the media may do the same.
5. The Government of Colombia will send a copy of this material to the Governments of France and the United States by reason of the dual citizenship of Ingrid Betancourt and the citizenship of the three American citizens who appear in it.
Bogotá, November 30. 2007
Spanish version
Vea las fotos y el video
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