Former Colombian congressman escapes from rebel's captivity
27/10/2008 16:27
Former Colombian congressman Oscar Tulio Lizcano escaped from captivity
yesterday after being held for more than eight years by the rebel Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Lizcano got to a military base along with a
young guerrilla who had been his jailer.
During a brief news conference in
the western city of Cali, Lizcano, 63, told the media that he fled a FARC's camp
in western jungles and trudged for three days before finding a military
base.
Colombia's government army was said to have helped the escape.
Juan
Manuel Santos, defense minister of Colombia, said another rebel from the FARC
had deserted earlier this month, disclosing Lizcano's whereabouts to the
authorities.
The guerrilla who escaped with Lizcano said the government
army's operation had put pressures on FARC, leading to their shortage of
food.
The military rescued 15 hostages held by FARC in early July, including
former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who had been held for
six years.
As Colombia's most powerful insurgency group, FARC has been trying
to topple the Bogota government since the 1960s.
According to official
statistics, there are thousands of hostages held by the rebels and criminal
groups of Colombia.
Xinhua
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