Ex-hostages to sue the FARC

Three U.S. military contractors held hostage by the FARC for more than five years are suing the guerrilla organization for the physical and mental pain they endured while in captivity, Tampa Bay Online reported Friday.

Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves were captured by the FARC on February 13, 2003 when their anti-narcotics surveillance plane made an emergency landing in the Colombian jungle after a mechanical failure.

They were part of the group famously liberated by the Colombian military on 2 July 2008 in “Operation Jaque” along with presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The American surviviors are seeking compensation for “past and future physical and mental pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, emotional distress, loss of five and a half years” of their lives.

Relatives of the pilot of the flight who was executed are also joining the law suit.

One of their captors, Heli ‘Martin Sombra’ Mejia Mendoza, has already been charged with the crimes of conspiracy and aggravated kidnapping for ransom.

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