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Held Hostage In Colombia

For eight months, three Americans - Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell - have been held hostage in a jungle prison camp by Marxist guerrillas known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

They are civilian contractors paid by the Pentagon to do aerial surveillance for signs of cocaine production in Colombia.

Colombian journalist Jorge Enrique Botero obtained an exclusive interview this summer with the three hostages, who were allowed to send out messages to their families and their country.

CBSNews.com interviewed Botero and American filmmakers Victoria Bruce and Karin Hayes about their new documentary, "Held Hostage in Colombia."


How were you able to obtain an exclusive interview with the three American hostages?

Jorge Botero: I've been covering issues related to the war in Colombia since 1995. A year ago, I made a request to interview kidnapped Colombian senator and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and received authorization to interview other Colombia prisoners, including five politicians (senators, governors, etc.) and 27 police and military officials - some who were held for six years. It was fortunate that I was also able to interview the Americans.

Karin Hayes: Botero has a long history of reporting on Colombia, where there are more than 3,000 kidnappings a year. And he's the only journalist to ever get inside these camps. We met Botero during the making of our documentary, "The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt."

At the end of June, he contacted us and said, "Look, there is a chance I might be able to see the American hostages. Do you know any family members who are around?"

We only had two days to complete this part of the project. We had contact with the mother of one of the hostages, Marc Gonsalves, so we taped her message and sent Botero the video message via the Internet. Then, he trekked into the jungle, called us when he got back, and told us to come to Colombia.

Victoria Bruce: Botero showed us the footage the day we arrived. It doesn't matter if you don't know these men, it brings tears to your eyes. It's such a desperate situation. And Botero asked us to be part of this project, to show these proof-of-life messages to the families.


Can you describe your journey to the prison camp?

Jorge Botero: It was a solitary trip. I brought two cameras and traveled for 27 days through the jungles in the south of Colombia. I had to travel primarily through the rivers of the Amazon to get there. At times, it was impossible to tell where I was because I was in the jungle. Most days, I traveled in the middle of the night. And in these areas of the Amazon jungle, you can barely see the sky when you're in it.

This area was completely controlled by the FARC, so I was alone, as the only journalist, but I was in their hands because they were controlling the area. They were my guides and they took me to the headquarters where I was able to get permission to do the interviews.


What restrictions were placed on you during the interview?

Jorge Botero: I was only allowed to be with the hostages for six hours. But there were no restrictions other than that. There were no restrictions on the questions I could ask, and they didn't ask me for any of the materials that I had taken after the interview.


What were the conditions like inside the camp?

Jorge Botero: The conditions inside the camp were very difficult. It contains all of the dangerous conditions of the jungle. The hostages received three meals a day, a lot of water, and they received medical attention. But it was difficult because of all the illnesses that you can get in the jungle.

Victoria Bruce: These guys are not allowed to talk among themselves. They have no news, nothing to do, day in and out. That would be the most torturous thing, the mental anguish, depression of lack of human contact. And they are there for an undetermined amount of time.


Was there ever a time when you felt that you, or the hostages, were at risk?

Jorge Botero: The biggest fear for me, as well as for the hostages and guerrillas, was that at any time there could be a bombing from the Colombian military or a rescue operation – and these missions usually result in death. In May, there was a rescue operation that resulted in the death of a governor, an ex-minister and eight military police officials -- which showed that the Colombian military did not succeed in their operation. And what was reported was that when the guerrillas heard the helicopters, they killed the hostages.

Karin Hayes: My main fear was that I was worried about what the U.S. government could do to us. We didn't know if we could be arrested, and not given a trial … Here we are, carrying the only proof of life that these guys existed. We didn't know what could be done to us with this material.

Victoria Bruce: Was the U.S. government going to say we're collaborating with the terrorists? It terrorizes me how civil liberties for journalistic rights may be pushed aside for government agenda.


How did the hostages react to seeing you? Did they have hope that they would be released?

Jorge Botero: Their reaction was one of surprise and shock because it had been nearly six months, and they hadn't seen anyone but guerrillas. Their reaction was contradictory. On the one hand, they were happy to receive news from outside world, and they knew that maybe their message would reach their families. On the other hand, they had a huge fear that the U.S. government would come and try to rescue them.


What do you think the FARC felt they had to gain from this interview?

Jorge Botero: For FARC, this topic has been one of premiere importance. They want to have an exchange of their prisoners in Colombia's prison. I think they believed, through this, that if others got to know about the hostages' situation, their goals would be met. The FARC have in their power the military, political people, etc. And for them, this demonstrates the conflict in Colombia and puts pressure on the government.

Victoria Bruce: Basically, the government of President Uribe in Colombia and the government of President Bush here are hard-lined against terrorists. FARC has been labeled as terrorists by both governments, so for that reason the U.S. and Colombia have taken the stance that they will not negotiate in any way. They realize that getting this video out on these men would put pressure on the government to give them what they want.

Karin Hayes: From our point of view, the FARC certainly have their own agenda. We're not advocating their agenda, that's not what we do, but we are advocating a safe release of these hostages, bottom line. How that is determined is up to the government to decide.


How did the hostages' families react to the taped messages?

Karin Hayes: Marc's wife, Shane Gonsalves, was the first person we made contact with. She called the other family members and vouched for us and opened the door to see other families. The messages that the family saw were only the personal messages that the guys had given to the families. The families were pleased that they looked better than they expected they would look. But they could also tell the guys had lost weight and looked depressed. So it was a release to see them alive, to hear from them and to get a better understanding of what their situation was. But at the same time, it was also very sad.

Victoria Bruce: It was probably the most difficult part of our investigation, but we wanted to show the families these messages first, before making the documentary. You feel like you have a great gift to give someone, but it's not an answer, it's not a solution. It's a great thing that they are alive, but both the Colombia and the U.S. governments have closed the doors, so it's incredibly frustrating. It's just paralyzing. It's not a death. There's no closure, and in the cases of Colombia kidnappings, this can go on for years.


What do you think will happen to these hostages? What needs to be done by both governments?

Jorge Botero: In my personal opinion, there could be an exchange at some point, but that could take up to two years. But there could also be a rescue attempt at any time, and that is possible because kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt asked for one. Those are the two possibilities.

This is evidence that the increasing involvement of the U.S. in Colombia has left and will continue to leave more victims. In the few hours that I was with these hostages, I found them to be very valiant and dignified human beings. I believe that these men and their families are passing through a time of great suffering, and I hope those who are in the position to make decisions will do something to change the situation.

Victoria Bruce: Without any dialogue or negotiation, we've closed the door on these men. As journalists, we have to show what's happening and bring out the story. If the government is not going to negotiate with terrorists, then they need to open dialogue. This should be a case where they decide it's important enough to speak to the other side and find a solution. Otherwise, it ends any chance of bringing the hostages home alive.

Karin Hayes: It's as if the U.S. government doesn't want any press on the fact that these men were kidnapped - and the families are paralyzed by this situation. They can't do anything, and our government has said they won't negotiate for them. I can't imagine being in that position. I don't know how the families deal with it.


What do you hope to accomplish with your documentary and Web site?

Victoria Bruce: We want our Web site, Held Hostage in Colombia, to be an epicenter for all American hostages and anyone who has been forgotten. Karen and I are encouraged that this documentary will be a catalyst, and we've tried to encourage the families to go to the media, to do what they can to make sure that America doesn't forget these guys. These were Americans working for our country and they can't be abandoned.

Karin Hayes: We hear so little about Colombia, compared to other places. We wanted our piece to introduce American audiences to Colombia with some context and reason to take interest. Colombia is the third largest aid recipient of the U.S., but it's largely ignored. We were given the opportunity to do something with this, and it was our responsibility to tell this story. By not playing with the government agenda, and letting these guys talk on camera and families, I think, it gives the American public a chance to decide if we need to care about this.

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