Former Senator Consuelo Gonzales de Perdomo today asked Colombia to work as a matter of urgency towards the release of all FARC hostages and insists that President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela take part in the process.

“I will not accept that Colombia does nothing”, Consuelo Gonzales said.”We must do what is necessary and we have the means”, adding that “it is a tragic situation we cannot ignore”. Gonzales stated on radio that the majority of hostages lived in chains, which she described as “a painful ordeal” and said it is “the only place in the world where this is happening”. The hostages must carry out all basic functions such as eating and washing while chained.

She stated that the rebels constantly moved from one camp to another, the camps were called “people prisons” where they slept on tables, plastic bags or in hammocks. Their captors would tell the kidnapped when they could wash or go to the toilet.

Gonzales had malaria three times and a parasitic infection twice; the only medicine she got was given to her by a male rebel because there was no medical care.

She stressed that the mediation by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela must not be seen as “interference”: but that he could play an “important role”. It must be understood that it would not be interfering but an action done for humanitarian reasons”, she said.

In the interview, she acknowledged that the birth of her grand daughter Maria Juliana gave her a “reason to survive” but after hearing of her husband’s death she felt” everything closing in on her”.

Gonzales got news of his death in a message sent b y her daughter Patricia Elena:” I was called on 6 January and told he had died, but that I should be calm as he had not suffered. Her husband Jairo Perdomo died of a heart attack, one year after her kidnapping.

Military Operations.

The former Senator’s life was at risk due to military operations in the area. “They often moved from one camp to another. We saw bombs fall near where we were”.

Gonzales also heard of the death of the 11 deputies from the Cauca Valley region who were killed when held by FARC.”We head it on the radio at dawn and it really upset us. We were tormented because we knew that that could happen to us, too and we were sad for their families”, she said.

On 17 December, she heard on Radio Caracol of FARC’s plan to release her and Clara. It was natural they would free Clara because of her son but it surprised her (that she was to be freed). “Rebel leader Marulanda had softened his heart”, she supposed.

Finally, they left the camp on 20 December and on the 21st they headed fro freedom.Although to reach freedom they had to walk for several days and in different directions until finally the helicopter arrived on (Thursday, 10 January) to take them to Venezuela.