For five-and-a-half years, until this past July, I was held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). During my captivity I suffered starvation, sickness, imposed isolation, and long, arduous, physically painful marches through the jungles of Colombia. I was chained to another hostage by the neck and threatened daily. One of the commanders of the group that held me was Alexander Farfan, a soft-spoken, thoughtful-looking man who was the only jungle-walking guerilla soldier I had ever seen who wore glasses. Together with my fellow hostages Keith Stansell and Tom Howes, we gave him the nickname "Gafas" or glasses. But in spite of our nickname or his intellectual mien, I saw in this man the worst of humanity.
It was his mission to prevent me from going home, his duty to massacre me in the event of a rescue attempt. Gafas was a terrorist as perverse as he was cruel. He took pleasure in mocking his captives, boasting how he would never be taken alive. "I will fight to the death! I will never surrender" was his constant refrain.
On July 2, 2008, fate would require him to prove those words when the Colombian Army performed one of the finest rescues in modern military history. The mission was code named operation "Check Mate," and it was carried out with a textbook precision that you would only expect in a Hollywood blockbuster. Fifteen hostages saved, two terrorists seized (both Gafas and his boss, alias Cesar), and not a shot fired. After realizing he was caught, Cesar desperately struggled against the Colombian soldiers until he was rendered unconscious. Meanwhile Gafas, the man who would fight to the death, uttered barely a whimper as the chains encircled his wrists.
Earlier this month, the Colombian Supreme Court denied a request by the United States to extradite Gafas for our kidnapping. The court issued a statement explaining they denied his extradition "because the crimes for which he is wanted were committed in national territory." Similarly, though the extradition request for Cesar was approved, it was approved for drug trafficking not for our abduction.
How is it that a terrorist who was caught red handed committing crimes against Americans is not going to be extradited to the US to face American justice?
Colombian President Uribe has extradited over 800 criminals to the US, more than any other president in the history of Colombia. In his time as president he has worked forcefully and skillfully with the United States to put criminals in their place and see that justice is served. But despite Uribe's diligent efforts, the situation with Gafas and Cesar demonstrates the fraught and difficult questions that need to be answered as America confronts terrorism in its own backyard. In Colombia and in other locations around the world, the War on Terror is unavoidably tied to the War on Drugs. Both are important and crucial to keeping America safe, but making drugs the only grounds for extradition sets a dangerous precedent and risks undermining our country's ability to combat terrorism.
Extradition is a deterrent and when used correctly it can be a powerful tool for preventing terrorism. Pablo Escobar, the legendary Colombian drug lord, put it best when he said he'd prefer a tomb in Colombia to a jail cell in the United States. Mono Jojoy, a key leader of the FARC, has publicly declared the same. I know that Gafas will be judged in Colombia for Colombian crimes, but that is just a piece of due process. He must be brought to the United States to account for his crimes against America as well. This is the only way that we can work to ensure that what happened to us will never happen again. As a Christian, I forgive Gafas; but as a citizen of the world, I want justice.
Thank you for your editorial regarding your kidnapper, "Gafas" FARC member on Huffington Post. I bought the book "Out of Captivity" enjoyed it immensely as a story of human perseverance in the most horrifice of conditions, was a page turner. Yes, you're right when you say that the Columbian military operation to free you folks was something out of a "Hollywood Blockbuster" Wow!
I think your story made every American proud regardless of their political beliefs Long live the USA!.
I have to agree with most of these posters. You voluntarily signed up to be a military contractor with Northrop Grumman. Unlike our own military you could have left at any time even after your colleagues warned your superiors that flying single-engine Cessnas was dangerous--and THEY quit. Like it or not the American government has waged a de facto war with the FARC. You were a soldier in that war, you were shot down, and taken prisoner. Were you beaten or tortured? You don't mention that. Yes, you weren't treated like a prince and like it or not, life in the jungle can be tortuous for even the best of us. I don't agree with keeping Betancourt hostage but then again hundreds of MY brethren are not locked up in Colombian prisons where they probably ARE being beaten and tortured.
you are more keen on revenge than on using your current status as a platform to promote peace. An eye for an eye makes the entire world blind. And that extradition policy you were talking about - thats just bull. The US has far more tougher policies with
other countries. Having said the above - I am really glad you are back after a near death experience. I wish you a healthy and
successful life ahead Mark. Peace.
amazing. Sounds like a CIA agent complaining about not being able to travel any more because the US torturing people of other countries might perhaps interrupt their vacation plans.
Also, I am outraged that this "Cesar" was "rendered unconcious" by the government's solders! Was he beaten? Choked? Can you say "POLICE BRUTALITY"! What is next, putting a leash on them and making them walk around like a dog?
I hope that the ACLU sends lawyers to represent these crimes! This should cost the government (ie- the tax payer) hefty prices in lawyer's fees to defend for the physical abuse and anguish that have been wrongfully incurred on Cesar, regardless of his crimes against humanity!
In all seriousness, Marc I am glad that you are ok. I hope that you make alot of money on your book. Unfortunately, the government will take a large chunk of any of the profits you should rightfully be keeping in your pocket.
Colombia is a soverign nation.
I don't understand how people think they are somehow special because they are American when they travel to another country.
You can label a lot of people terrorist. How about the CEO of BOA or CTI?
I don't know why Vietnam hasn't extridited Kissinger.
The drug war? What a joke.
So long as there is a profit to be made the drug war just offers price supports.
So you have a personal issue with this guy, his guys did't come to NYC to grab you.
Dig around NYC and something worse could well happen to you.
The entire thing is a battle to control market share.
Heroin and coke has never been cheaper.
Prisons are the only growth industry in the US.
The police, lawyers, judges and courts, never more plentiful or rich.
You learned a sad lesson but are far better off than most.
Desperados and gangsters don't worry about threats.
Dying is a given, getting caught not an option.
You should be grateful for your life.
A lot of people are not so lucky.
Why be a cheerleader for those who want to shovel sand into the ocean?
There are huge profits involved so the so called drug wars will go on forever.
Yours is a personal gripe.
Absolutely!! Marc CHOSE to go to Columbia, knowing what a dangerous place it is. It sounds to my like he should have cowboyed-up and taken the guy down himself if its so important to him. Even in captivity there are do many ways to permanently shut down the human body. He said he was chained to another person, how about waiting until this bespectacled, uneducated jungle rat turns his back then garrote him with it.
My point is if this is such a big deal to Marc that he wants this guy brought to the US, then it should have been a big enough deal to him at the time to risk death to escape.
When my fiancee (who is Colombian) was 14, she witnessed whole families being massacred with machine guns in their cars at a guerrilla checkpoint from her window on a bus. Her uncle was abducted by guerrillas and later found cut into pieces, while another uncle who was also taken was forced to watch. Her father was nearly abducted by the guerrillas as a child, but faked a severe limp when spotted, his friend was taken and never seen again. Another one of her relatives' homes was raided by guerrillas and the entire family killed, save for one child who managed to escape before they arrived.
Despite these and other events, she always speaks of the beauty of her family's native Barranquilla, the amazing water and beaches and the colors, sounds, food and people of Colombia. Such a shame.