Colombians to be
Released in Venezuela
Venezuela is ready to
receive three people who
the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC)
announced it would be
handing over in
recognition of the
mediating efforts made
by President Hugo
Chavez.
In a release recently
shown to Prensa Latina, FARC announced the
release of Clara Rojas,
her son Emmanuel and
former legislator
Consuelo Gonzalez de
Perdomo.
"Since the first day
President Chavez started
this mediation process,
we have been ready to
continue moving
forward," Vice President
Jorge Rodriguez told
journalists at an
oath-taking ceremony of
the Moral Power
(comptroller, ombudsman
and Attorney General of
the Republic).
His remarks are one of
the very few official
statements on the issue,
which has triggered a
great number of versions
about possible dates of
the prisoner handover
and rumors about the
presence in Venezuela of
some of these people
held by the guerrillas.
According to reports
quoting unidentified
sources, the release
might take place in
Venezuelan territory
anytime from tonight
through December 24,
with Rodriguez and other
officials refusing to
give any clue about date
or place.
The Venezuelan vice
president described as
"completely false"
stories about the
alleged presence of
Colombian former
presidential candidate
Ingrid Betancourt in
Fort Tiuna in Caracas.
In this regard, he
warned that these rumors
affect the hostages"
safety.
"I urge all media to
exercise restraint, calm
and discretion to
protect the lives of
these people," he
stressed.
The reservation of
Venezuelan authorities
stems from the certainty
that there are many
enemies of peace in
Colombia, powerful
sectors which "would
prefer to maintain this
situation of mourning,
violence and war."
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