Former FARC Rebels Speak Out

CHAN: Two Colombians have quit the FARC militant organization this week. And they brought a special delivery with them. Here's more on the story. STORY: Facing the cameras - two FARC deserters are presented to the Colombian press. Sitting alongside them are two hostages who escaped with the Marxist guerrillas: one a businessman the other a 14-year-old boy. They were kidnapped for ransom late last year. The young defectors can expect to be rewarded under a government scheme which is aimed at encouraging rebels to desert by offering them cash rewards and asylum in France. ["Eduardo", FARC Defector]: "I am very happy to be free with my friend (referring to the second rebel who defected) and the hostages. I am against kidnapping. I never liked it. I can't understand that a group that says it fights for the revolution could kidnap children and keep them in the jungle." Desertions and the death of top leaders have severely weakened the once powerful Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The group still holds dozens of high-profile hostages and hundreds of other captives in a string of jungle camps. Last month, the FARC announced it was going to release a group of hostages including two politicians, Alan Jara and Sigifredo Lopez. Both men have spent more than six years in captivity. But the hostage handover is being delayed by wrangling over who should be present at the release.

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YouTube | January 16, 2009

Tags:. .defectors. .wrangling. .eduardo. .colombians. .asylum