Tuesday 23 December
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Nicaragua
Nears Literacy Target
Cuba Immersed in
Sugarcane Harvest
Colombia Rejects
International Participation in Hostage
Release
Bolivia
Foils Attempt To Assassinate President
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Colombia Rejects
International
Participation in Hostage
Release
Bogota - Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe
said Monday he will not
let other nations act as
mediators during the
pending release of some
hostages held by rebels.
The Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC)
announced on Sunday that
in January it would
release former Governor
Alan Jara, former
Regional Deputy
Sigifredo Lopez and thee
policemen and soldiers.
"We are not going to let
them to harm the
country, to bring this
risk to the country of
deteriorating the
international ties. So
from now we warn the
terrorism and local
politicians who are now
in this game that the
government will not
allow them to create
international risks,"
Uribe said.
Uribe announced that he
will only allow the
participation of the
International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC)
in the release.
Uribe criticized the
FARC for releasing six
hostages but kidnapping
some peasants in central
Colombia on Sunday.
Relatives of some of the
hostages said they trust
the government of
Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez to help with
the pending release.
"I have made it clear
that it must be
consulted with the
government because it is
a Colombian problem. I
would really thank
President Chavez if he
could contribute," said
Colombian Senator Piedad
Cordaba.
Chavez's mediation at
the beginning of the
year allowed the
liberation of many
kidnapped hostages but
Bogota later canceled
the Venezuelan
president's efforts,
which created strong
tension between both
countries.
The ICRC in Colombia
offered its
collaboration for the
release process because
of its impartiality and
procedures to guarantee
human rights.
The FARC is the largest
guerilla group in
Colombia and has held
about 28 "exchangeable"
hostages for rebels in
prisons. It is estimated
that the FARC holds more
than 700 hostages.
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