The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was a self-proclaimed Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization, listed internationally as a terrorist group by a number of countries. Estimates claim that the FARC at one point had hundreds of hostages who were held for ransom.
The following list of former hostages are what the FARC called "canjeables" (exchangeable), as they offered their freedom in return for the liberty of 500 FARC members held in Colombian prisons through a prisoner exchange. The humanitarian exchange never happened. The FARC released their last political hostages in April 2012.
Former hostages Name Capture Release or demise Date Place Position Date Reason Pedro José Guarnizo Ovalle 1997-07-02 Urabá, Antioquia Sergeant 2003-05-05 Rescued Pablo Emilio Moncayo Cabrera 1997-12-21 Patascoy, Nariño Corporal 2010-03-30 Released Libio Jose Martinez Estrada 2011-11-26 Killed José Miguel Arteaga 1998-03-03 El Billar, Caquetá Corporal 2008-07-02 Rescued William Humberto Pérez Medina José Ricardo Marulanda Valencia Sergeant First Class Luis Alfonso Beltran Franco Corporal 2012-04-02 Released Luis Arturo Arcia Wagner Harvey Tapias Torres 1998-05-28 Mutata, Antioquia Lieutenant 2003-05-05 Killed Samuel Ernesto Cote 1998-06-11 Frontino, Antioquia Corporal 2003-05-05 Killed Francisco Manuel Negrete Mendoza 1998-08-01 Pavarandó, Antioquia Corporal 2003-05-05 Killed Mario Alberto Marín Franco 1998-08-03 Armando Flórez Pantoja 1998-08-03 Miraflores, Guaviare Corporal 2008-07-02 Rescued Julio Cesar Buitrago Cuesta Jhon Jairo Durán Tuay Juan Carlos Bermeo Covaleda Lieutenant Erasmo Romero Rodríguez Sergeant Arbey Delgado Argote 2010-06-13 William Donato Gomez Lieutenant 2010-06-14 Róbinson Salcedo Guarín Corporal 2012-04-02 Released Luis Alfredo Moreno Chagueza Raimundo Castellanos Malagón 1998-08-04 La Uribe, Meta Sub-Lieutenant 2008-07-02 Rescued Héctor Lucuara Duván Segura 1998-08-14 Tamborales, Chocó Sergeant First Class 2003-05-05 Killed Jairsinio Navarrete Sánchez 1998-08-15 Corporal Edgar Yesid Duarte Valero 1998-10-14 El Paujil, Caquetá Captain 2011-11-26 Killed Elkin Hernández Rivas Lieutenant Luis Hernando Peña Bonilla 1998-11-01 Mitú, VaupésSub-intendant 2003 Killed Jhon Frank Pinchao Blanco 2007-05-16 Escaped Julián Ernesto Guevara Castro Captain 2006-01-28 Died in captivity Vianey Javier Rodríguez Porras Sub-Lieutenant 2008-07-02 Rescued Luis Herlindo Mendieta Ovalle Lieutenant Colonel 2010-06-13 Rescued Enrique Murillo Sanchez Captain César Augusto Lasso Monsalve Sergeant 2012-04-02 Released Heriberto Aranguren González 1999-06-22 Aguas Prietas, Córdoba Sergeant 2003-05-05 Rescued Carlos José Duarte Rojas 1999-07-10 Puerto Rico, Meta Sub-intendant 2012-04-02 Released Wilson Rojas Medina Jorge Trujillo Solarte Jorge Humberto Romero José Libardo Forero Carrero Corporal Armando Castellanos Gaona 1999-11-16 La Arada, Tolima Sub-intendant 2008-07-02 Rescued Luis Alberto Erazo Maya 1999-12-09 Curillo, Caquetá Sergeant 2011-11-26 Rescued Álvaro Jose Moreno Intendant Killed Alejandro Ledesma Ortiz 1999-12-12 Juradó, Chocó Lieutenant 2003-05-05 Killed José Gregorio Peña Guarín Corporal Antenor Biella Hernández Rescued Oscar Tulio Lizcano 2000-08-05 Riosucio, Caldas Representative 2008-10-26 Escaped Fernando Araújo Perdomo 2000-12-04 Cartagena, Bolívar Minister 2007-01-05 Escaped Luis Eladio Pérez Bonilla 2001-06-10 Ipiales, Nariño Senator 2008-02-27 Released Gloria Polanco de Lozada 2001-06-26 Neiva, Huila First Lady of the Huila Department 2008-02-27 Released Alan Edmundo Jara Urzola 2001-07-15 Lejanías, Meta Ex-Governor of Meta 2009-02-03 Released Orlando Beltrán Cuellar 2001-08-28 Gigante, Huila Representative 2008-02-27 Released Consuelo González de Perdomo 2001-09-10 Highway in Huila Representative 2008-01-10 Released Jorge Eduardo Géchem Turbay 2002-02-20 Flight towards Hobo, Huila Senator 2008-02-27 Released Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio 2002-02-23 Montañitas, Caquetá Presidential Candidate 2008-07-02 Rescued Clara Leticia Rojas González Campaign Manager 2008-01-10 Released Francisco Javier Giraldo Cadavid 2002-04-11 Cali, Valle del Cauca Valle del Cauca Deputy 2007-06-18 Killed Juan Carlos Narváez Reyes Carlos Alberto Barragán López Carlos Alberto Charry Quiroga Jairo Javier Hoyos Salcedo Edinson Pérez Núñez Nacianceno Orozco Grisales Rufino Varela Alberto Quintero Herrera Héctor Fabio Arizmendi Ospina Ramiro Echeverri Sánchez Sigifredo López Tobón 2002-04-11 Cali, Valle del Cauca Valle del Cauca Deputy 2009-02-05 Released Guillermo Gaviria Correa 2002-04-21 Caicedo, Antioquia Governor of Antioquia 2003-05-05 Killed Gilberto Echeverri Mejía Ex-Minister Keith Donald Stansell 2003-02-13 Caquetá Department US American Contractor 2008-07-02 Rescued Marc David Gonsalves Thomas Randolph Howes Emmanuel Rojas Born 2004-04-16 Born in captivity June 2005 (sent to Bogotá)December 2007 (found) Found in foster care in Bogotá William Giovanni Domínguez Castro 2007-01-20 Florencia, Caquetá Private 2009-02-01 Released Guillermo Javier Solórzano Julio 2007-06-04 Florida, Valle del Cauca Captain 2011-02-16 Released Alexis Torres Zapata 2007-06-09 El Paujil, Caquetá Police Officer 2009-02-01 Released José Walter Lozano Guarnizo Juan Fernando Galicio Uribe Salin Antonio San Miguel Valderrama 2008-05-23 El Tambo, Tolima Corporal 2011-02-16 Released Francisco Aldemar Franco Zamora 2009-03-22 Miraflores, Guaviare Sergeant May 2009 Killed Josue Daniel Calvo Sanchez 2009-04-20 El Encanto, Meta Private 2010-03-28 ReleasedLuis Francisco Cuellar Carvajal 2009-12-21 Florencia, Caquetá Governor of Caqueta Department 2009-12-22 Killed Henry Lopez Martinez 2010-05-23 Solano, Caquetá Private 2011-02-11 Released
References
Speech by President Uribe; January 10th, 2008 Colombia Clamors Las Voces del Secuestro BBC News: Betancourt 'rescued in Colombia'