asylum in Cuba. From March 30 to April 19, the guerrillas released the Costa Rican consul and all of the remaining non-diplomatic hostages. They requested a meeting in Panama with Colombian leaders to resolve the crisis, but were denied by the Colombian government. Their demand for the release of a dozen prisoners was denied, though they were paid US$2.5 million in ransom money. On April 27, the ambassadors from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Egypt were released by the hostage takers, along with two Colombians. The sixteen guerrillas left the embassy with the remaining twelve diplomatic hostages under the supervision of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States, and boarded a Cubana Airlines flight to Cuba. They were cheered by many Colombians waiting for them at the airport. They flew to Havana, where the diplomats were released and returned to their home countries. Aftermath The leader of the M-19 group, Rosemberg Pabón, promised to return to Colombia. After living in exile in Cuba, he eventually returned to Colombia in time to participate in the M-19's siege of his home town of Yumbo. The M-19's second in command, a guerrilla named Carmenza Cardona Londoño, known by her nom de guerre 'La Chiqui', returned to Colombia after spending some time in Havana, and died in combat with the Colombian Army a few years later. The M-19's third in command during the Embassy Siege, Ligia Vasquez, known as 'Commander Maria', was granted political asylum by France. She currently lives in Strasbourg. See also List of attacks on diplomatic missions References Bibliography History of Colombia 19th of April Movement Hostage taking in Colombia 1980 in Colombia Colombia Dominican Republic 20th century in Bogotá Colombia–Dominican Republic relations Events in Bogotá 1980 murders in Colombia