For years, the hostages held by FARC rebels lived under thatched-roof huts and ate a diet of plantains and rice. ”We lived having to hide like rats,” said Sgt. Pedro Guarnizo, who Monday became the only hostage to escape unscathed from a botched rescue operation that killed a Colombian governor, a former defense minister and eight of Guarnizo’s friends. Most of the group were made up of a dozen young Colombian soldiers — from the army and marines — who were snatched by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia during combat. Many of the men had children they had never seen. Their mentors and teachers were the older captives, the two who arrived just a year ago: Antioquia Gov. Guillermo Gaviria and former Defense Minister Gilberto Echeverri, who spent their time in captivity teaching English to the younger men. Full Story
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