Bogota - Members of an indigenous community on Thursday rescued seven people who were being held hostage by alleged leftist rebels in southwestern Colombia. The indigenous leader Vilma Almendra, of the Piayo community, told the radio station Caracol that the natives went out to find the hostages allegedly held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) upon hearing of the kidnappings early Thursday.
"The whole guard, women, men, children, everyone went out in the chase. The criminals left five people with one of their number in a car, and then took two other people towards the mountains," Almendra said.
However, the indigenous people circled the kidnappers and forced them to release all their hostages.
The victims of the kidnapping had been travelling though indigenous territory between the villages of Jambalo and Silvia, in the Cauca province, when they were taken hostage by FARC.
After their release, they were reportedly taken to Piayo settlements.
