Former FARC hostage Keith Stansell, who — together with two other U.S.
citizens — was rescued from captivity in July 2008, returned to
Colombia to thank the Colombian military for the rescue.
The former hostage Wednesday went to the Tolemaide air base near Bogotá where he spoke with Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, commander of the Armed Forces Freddy Padilla and the four members of the armed forces that recently were released by the guerrillas.
“General, thanks to you and your troops I am here alive, thank you. My trip to Colombia is for one thing and one thing only: To thank teh Colombians, the Colombian army and the Public Force, for returning me my life,” the former hostage told the present military.
Stansell’s visit to the country where he, Thomas Howes and Marc
Gonsalves spent six years in the jungle was kept a secret to protect
the American’s safety.