Asier Huegun Back Home

Today at Berria:

Full of emotion but disinclined to say much at Hondarribia airport

At around 13.45 hours Asier Huegun and his parents landed at Hondarribia, where close relatives and friends awaited them

Amagoia Iban – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Early yesterday afternoon Hondarribia airport was full of reporters waiting for Asier Huegun. By then they knew he had arrived at the Spanish capital from Bogota at around 10.30 hours and by 12.40 would have boarded the plane bound for the Basque Country. “He’s due in at around two o’clock,” said everyone and the plane carrying the young man from Donostia touched down at 13.45 hours.

He was one of the last off the plane. He emerged together with his parents, Amaia and Joxemari, and the Jesuit, Javier Arellako. He was wearing jeans, a green T-shirt and a blue sweater. At the bottom of the stairs from the plane two people stood waiting for him including a sister. When Asier Huegun saw them, he punched the air with his fists. When he came down the steps he gave his sister a fierce hug. His mother, Amaia Etxeberria, was in tears. More close friends and relatives were waiting for the young man from Donostia outside the terminal building on the edge of the runway. After waving to them he went inside the terminal to collect his luggage. When he had done so, the Arrivals door opened. On the other side flashes, microphones, cameras and recorders were there to catch the words of the young man, who emerged with a full beard. He said a few words to confirm that he was “fine healthwise” and “mentally, too” was feeling “great”. He said his family seemed to be “very well”. And he thanked “all the people” who had offered him their help and solidarity. “I’ll be giving a press conference tomorrow and I would be grateful if you would please respect that and leave both me and my family alone until tomorrow. We’ll all talk tomorrow. I’m fine, feeling great.” After making these declarations Huegun left the throng of reporters behind him.

Reinhilt Weigel, the young German woman, also travelled home yesterday. The plane taking her from Bogota landed at Frankfurt airport. An airport spokesperson said the frontier police had collected her. They drove the only woman who had been held by the ELN (Colombian National Liberation Army) in the Sierra Nevada since September 12 to the town of Ganderkesee, where her parents live.

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