Clara Rojas, former vice-presidential candidate released by the Colombia's largest guerrilla group FARC on Thursday, arrived in Colombia from Venezuela, to where she was released, on Sunday afternoon with her mother Clara and her brother Ivan.
Clara Rojas, former vice-presidential candidate released by the Colombia's largest guerrilla group FARC on Thursday, waves after her arrival to Bogota airport Jan. 13, 2008.
Arriving at a military airport in Colombia's capital Bogota, Rojas was received by the nation's Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos; its high commissioner for peace, Luis Carlos Restrepo; and the director of the state Colombian Family Well-being Agency (ICBF)where her son is being cared for.
Rojas, who was kidnapped in 2002 in southern Colombia alongside presidential running mate Ingrid Betancourt, left the Melia hotel in Venezuela's capital Caracas earlier on Sunday. Her first words in Colombia were to thank Venezuela's government and people.
She then said she wanted to be reunited as soon as possible with Emmanuel, her son born in captivity, who had been in an ICBF orphanage in Bogota since mid 2005. Rojas is now set to go directly to the orphanage to find out how Emmanuel is.
Rojas also said she could not be completely happy because many of her fellow hostages remain in Colombia's jungles with the FARC. She also sent a message to Betancourt where she committed herself to do all she can to ensure her freedom.
Local media said that former legislator Consuelo Gonzalez, released alongside Rojas, would arrive in Colombia on Monday and immediately hand over evidence that other FARC hostages are alive.
Clara Rojas(c)waves after her arrival to Bogota airport Jan. 13, 2008.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2008)
