Operation Emmanuel
Encyclopedia
Operation Emmanuel was a humanitarian operation
that rescued politician Clara Rojas
, her son Emmanuel (born in captivity), and former senator Consuelo González from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) in Colombia
. The operation was proposed and set up by Venezuela
n President Hugo Chávez
, with the permission of the Colombian government of Álvaro Uribe
. Chávez's plan was supported by the governments of Argentina
, Brazil
, France
, Ecuador
and Bolivia
, as well as the Red Cross which also participated in the operation. Venezuelan aircraft were flown to an airport in the Colombian town of Villavicencio, were resupplied, and from there flew to the secret rescue point set up by the FARC. On December 26, 2007 the Colombian government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs approved the mission; only requesting that the aircraft used for the operations were labeled with Red Cross insignias.
" between government-held guerrilla prisoners for FARC-held hostages. In 2002 former Vice Presidential candidate Clara Rojas was kidnapped along with presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt
and both also continued to be held by the FARC. While in captivity, Clara Rojas got involved in a relationship with one of her captors and had a baby as a result, who was named Emmanuel.
In 2007 Colombian policeman
John Frank Pinchao escaped from his FARC captors and confirmed the existence of the relationship and of Emmanuel.
President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez has said that the plan consists of three phases. The first phase was to send the two Mil Mi-17
helicopters to Colombia carrying five International Red Cross Committee delegates. Both helicopters are to be equipped with medical aid apt for the humanitarian mission and in accordance with International Red Cross standards. Chávez personally inspected the two helicopters in Santo Domingo before departing along with former president of Argentina
Néstor Kirchner
, who was also invited to supervise the operations. Besides the two Mi-17 helicopters, two Bell 412
helicopters and three French-made executive jets Falcon 200 were also used for support tasks.
Along with the ICRC delegates there will be representatives from Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, France, Cuba, Bolivia, Colombia and Switzerland. Hollywood director Oliver Stone
was contacted by Chávez to film a documentary about the ordeal.
Family members of the three hostages traveled from Colombia to Caracas
to wait for the end of the operation, set to conclude in Caracas with President Chávez receiving them, as previously petitioned by the FARC as a condition.
During the first phase two Russian-made MI-17
helicopters from the Venezuelan Military Search and Rescue Team flew into Colombia on December 27, 2007 at 1530 hours with the permission of the President of Colombia and with the International Red Cross (IRC) insignia for a humanitarian mission. The helicopters flew over two hours from the Venezuelan town of Santo Domingo in the State of Táchira
to the Colombian city of Villavicencio
, capital of the Department of Meta
, arriving at around 1730 hours.
Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace
, Luis Carlos Restrepo Ramírez, was scheduled to receive the IRC delegates and the Vice Chancellor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rodolfo Sanz, in Villavicencio to coordinate the rescue operation.
At the end of the first phase Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said:
“[I'm] thinking about the freedom of Emmanuel, the child who was conceived by a kidnapped mother, who has been raised kidnapped, a condition worse than the conditions seen in enslaved societies […]”
indicated that FARC had not freed the three hostages because Emmanuel may not be in their hands anymore.
Colombian authorities added that a boy matching Emmanuel's description had been taken to a hospital in San José del Guaviare
in June 2005. The child was in poor condition; one of his arms was hurt, he had severe malnutrition, and he had diseases that are commonly suffered in the jungle. Having been evidently mistreated, the boy was later sent to a foster home in Bogotá and DNA tests were announced in order to confirm his identity.
On January 4, the results of a mitochondrial DNA
test, comparing the child's DNA with that of his potential grandmother Clara de Rojas, were revealed by the Colombian government. It was reported that there was a very high probability that the boy was indeed part of the Rojas family. A further analysis will be carried out in a Santiago de Compostela
institute in order to verify the procedure, which could take up to two weeks.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro
questioned the results, stating that Colombia did not allow Venezuelan specialists to conduct their own tests and had created a "cloak of doubt".
On January 4, the FARC released a communique in which they admitted that Emmanuel had been taken to Bogotá and "left in the care of honest persons" for safety reasons until a humanitarian exchange took place. The group accused President Uribe of "kidnapping" the child in order to sabotage his liberation.
Further medical tests revealed beyond any doubt the identity of the child.
The suspended operation resumed and, on January 10, 2008, a humanitarian commission headed by the International Committee of the Red Cross
flew in two Venezuelan helicopters to a location in Colombia that had been designated by FARC the previous day. Rojas and Gonzalez were then released to the care of the commission. The release received ample coverage by Venezuelan government media which was allowed to take camera men in the helicopters in what was to become a carefully crafted media showcase.
On January 13, 2008, Clara Rojas
was reunited with her son, Emmanuel. It was the first time in over two years that she was able to see him.
Humanitarian intervention
Humanitarian intervention "refers to a state using military force against another state when the chief publicly declared aim of that military action is ending human-rights violations being perpetrated by the state against which it is directed."...
that rescued politician Clara Rojas
Clara Rojas
Clara Leticia Rojas González is a Colombian tax lawyer, university lecturer, and campaign manager for former senator and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. She was kidnapped along with Betancourt by the FARC guerrilla group near San Vicente del Caguán on February 23, 2002, while Betancourt...
, her son Emmanuel (born in captivity), and former senator Consuelo González from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC) in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The operation was proposed and set up by Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
, with the permission of the Colombian government of Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
. Chávez's plan was supported by the governments of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, as well as the Red Cross which also participated in the operation. Venezuelan aircraft were flown to an airport in the Colombian town of Villavicencio, were resupplied, and from there flew to the secret rescue point set up by the FARC. On December 26, 2007 the Colombian government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs approved the mission; only requesting that the aircraft used for the operations were labeled with Red Cross insignias.
Background
Colombian politician and then-senator Consuelo González was kidnapped by the FARC on September 10, 2001 and had since then been held by her captors, in order to pressure a possible "humanitarian exchangeHumanitarian exchange
The Humanitarian Exchange or Humanitarian Accord refers to the possible accord to exchange hostages for prisoners between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrilla group and the Government of Colombia....
" between government-held guerrilla prisoners for FARC-held hostages. In 2002 former Vice Presidential candidate Clara Rojas was kidnapped along with presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt
Íngrid Betancourt
Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio is a Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist.Betancourt was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on 23 February 2002 and was rescued by Colombian security forces six and a half years later on 2 July 2008...
and both also continued to be held by the FARC. While in captivity, Clara Rojas got involved in a relationship with one of her captors and had a baby as a result, who was named Emmanuel.
In 2007 Colombian policeman
Colombian National Police
The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia...
John Frank Pinchao escaped from his FARC captors and confirmed the existence of the relationship and of Emmanuel.
Mission
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters to Colombia carrying five International Red Cross Committee delegates. Both helicopters are to be equipped with medical aid apt for the humanitarian mission and in accordance with International Red Cross standards. Chávez personally inspected the two helicopters in Santo Domingo before departing along with former president of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, who was also invited to supervise the operations. Besides the two Mi-17 helicopters, two Bell 412
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
helicopters and three French-made executive jets Falcon 200 were also used for support tasks.
Along with the ICRC delegates there will be representatives from Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, France, Cuba, Bolivia, Colombia and Switzerland. Hollywood director Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
was contacted by Chávez to film a documentary about the ordeal.
Family members of the three hostages traveled from Colombia to Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
to wait for the end of the operation, set to conclude in Caracas with President Chávez receiving them, as previously petitioned by the FARC as a condition.
Phase I
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters from the Venezuelan Military Search and Rescue Team flew into Colombia on December 27, 2007 at 1530 hours with the permission of the President of Colombia and with the International Red Cross (IRC) insignia for a humanitarian mission. The helicopters flew over two hours from the Venezuelan town of Santo Domingo in the State of Táchira
Táchira (state)
Táchira State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal.Táchira State covers a total surface area of 11,100 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 1,177,300....
to the Colombian city of Villavicencio
Villavicencio
Villavicencio is a city and municipality in Colombia, capital of the Department of Meta, with 361,058 inhabitants. The city is located at 4°08S, 73°40W, 75 km southeast of the Colombian capital city of Bogotá by the Guatiquía river...
, capital of the Department of Meta
Meta Department
Meta is a department of Colombia. It is close to the geographic center of the country, to the east of the Andean mountains. A large portion of the department, which is also crossed by the Meta River, is covered by a grassland plain known as the Llanos. Its capital is Villavicencio...
, arriving at around 1730 hours.
Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace
High Commissioner for Peace (Colombia)
The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace is a political office in the Executive Branch of Colombia-List of High Commissioners:...
, Luis Carlos Restrepo Ramírez, was scheduled to receive the IRC delegates and the Vice Chancellor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rodolfo Sanz, in Villavicencio to coordinate the rescue operation.
At the end of the first phase Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said:
“[I'm] thinking about the freedom of Emmanuel, the child who was conceived by a kidnapped mother, who has been raised kidnapped, a condition worse than the conditions seen in enslaved societies […]”
Phase II
On December 31, Hugo Chávez read a letter from FARC where the group claimed that the hostage release had been delayed because of Colombian military operations. Colombian President Álvaro UribeÁlvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
indicated that FARC had not freed the three hostages because Emmanuel may not be in their hands anymore.
Colombian authorities added that a boy matching Emmanuel's description had been taken to a hospital in San José del Guaviare
San José del Guaviare
San José del Guaviare is a town and municipality in Colombia, capital of the department of Guaviare by the Guaviare River.-External links: *...
in June 2005. The child was in poor condition; one of his arms was hurt, he had severe malnutrition, and he had diseases that are commonly suffered in the jungle. Having been evidently mistreated, the boy was later sent to a foster home in Bogotá and DNA tests were announced in order to confirm his identity.
On January 4, the results of a mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
test, comparing the child's DNA with that of his potential grandmother Clara de Rojas, were revealed by the Colombian government. It was reported that there was a very high probability that the boy was indeed part of the Rojas family. A further analysis will be carried out in a Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
institute in order to verify the procedure, which could take up to two weeks.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician who was appointed foreign minister by President Hugo Chávez on 9 August 2006.- Biography :...
questioned the results, stating that Colombia did not allow Venezuelan specialists to conduct their own tests and had created a "cloak of doubt".
On January 4, the FARC released a communique in which they admitted that Emmanuel had been taken to Bogotá and "left in the care of honest persons" for safety reasons until a humanitarian exchange took place. The group accused President Uribe of "kidnapping" the child in order to sabotage his liberation.
Further medical tests revealed beyond any doubt the identity of the child.
The suspended operation resumed and, on January 10, 2008, a humanitarian commission headed by the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
flew in two Venezuelan helicopters to a location in Colombia that had been designated by FARC the previous day. Rojas and Gonzalez were then released to the care of the commission. The release received ample coverage by Venezuelan government media which was allowed to take camera men in the helicopters in what was to become a carefully crafted media showcase.
On January 13, 2008, Clara Rojas
Clara Rojas
Clara Leticia Rojas González is a Colombian tax lawyer, university lecturer, and campaign manager for former senator and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. She was kidnapped along with Betancourt by the FARC guerrilla group near San Vicente del Caguán on February 23, 2002, while Betancourt...
was reunited with her son, Emmanuel. It was the first time in over two years that she was able to see him.