Rebel leader says she's willing to remain in prison in U.S.

By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Colombian rebel leader said she would prefer to remain incarcerated at a federal prison in the U.S. so that she would not become an obstacle to reaching a humanitarian agreement between the rebels and the Colombian government, Colombian Sen. Piedad Cordoba said Thursday after visiting her.

Nayibe Rojas, who goes by the nom de guerre Sonia, is detained at the Federal Medical Center Carswell, which is inside a military base. Rojas was convicted of masterminding the smuggling of cocaine to the U.S. and Europe to earn money for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, or FARC.

FARC leaders are demanding that she and another imprisoned Colombian rebel be included in any prisoner swap with the Colombian government in exchange for the hostages the rebels have.

But Rojas told the visiting Colombian senator that if the process of brokering a deal would be stalled, she would prefer that they not worry about her and Ricardo Palmera, known by the nom de guerre Simon Trinidad. Palmera was convicted in the hostage-taking conspiracy of the three Americans.

"I would prefer the release of the 50 people FARC has," Cordoba quoted Rojas as saying in Spanish.

At the same time, Rojas doesn't see an agreement being brokered, since she believes Colombian President Alvaro Uribe doesn't want an accord.

"Since the president doesn't want it, there won't be a humanitarian agreement," Cordoba quoted Rojas as saying.

Uribe has said he opposes any measure that would allow the return of the two high-ranking rebels to Columbia.

During the visit, Rojas told Cordoba that she knows she is living under better conditions than the 50 people in FARC custody, which includes three U.S. defense contractors. The rebel leader said she can sometimes talk to her family and can receive photos of them while those being held in the jungle don't have those opportunities, according to Cordoba, who wiped away tears after walking out of the prison.

Cordoba, who is trying to facilitate a deal, plans to meet next week with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. The Colombian lawmaker has the support of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in trying to work out an accord and has served as an envoy for him.

Relatives of three U.S. defense contractors being held by Colombian rebels have traveled to Venezuela to urge Chavez to work for their loved ones' release.

Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Tom Howes have been held by Colombia's largest rebel group since their small plane went down in the country's southern jungles during a surveillance mission in February 2003.

The three Northrop Grumman Corp. contractors are among about hostages who, if t