Friday, January 4, 2008

Colombian gov’t: DNA tests prove child’s freedom

DNA tests showed that 3-year-old Emmanuel Rojas was placed in a foster home after being born while his mother was held hostage by the FARC, according to head Colombian prosecutor Mario Iguaran. In an article by Colombian daily El Tiempo:

“[The tests] have established total coincidences (between Emmanuel and the foster child ‘Juan David’]” announced Iguaran in a press conference in Santa Marta.

According to him, the preliminary exam results indicated that there were “common traces” in the blood tests between ‘Juan David’…and the son of Clara Gonzales de Rojas [image].

Thus, it can be concluded that there’s a “very high probability” that ‘Juan David’ is a member of the Rojas family. [ed. personal translation]

Further tests will be conducted at a lab in Spain next week according to health officilas. If Iguaran is correct it could prove that the Colombian government was right in hypothesizing that the FARC was bluffing during hostage negotiations. It was the doubt over Emmanuel’s custody by the guerillas which led Colombian president Alvaro Uribe to help cease the rescue mission on Monday.

In the meantime, the families of the hostages who were supposed to be freed said that “Operation Emmanuel” continues and hope that their loved ones will soon be reunited with them.

Sources (English)- Guardian UK, Monsters & Critics, The Latin Americanist

Sources (Spanish)- RCN, El Tiempo, Milenio

Image- BBC News

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