FARC Accepts Presence of
Red Cross in Hostage
Release
Bogota - Colombian
rebels accepted on
Wednesday the presence
of a mission from the
International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC)
in the release process
of six hostages.
"We agree with
participation of the
ICRC in the humanitarian
action. As soon as
preparations have been
completed, we will let
you know the day and the
place," the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC),
said in a letter to
opposition senator
Piedad Cordoba who is
negotiating the release
of the hostages.
The FARC, Colombia's
largest guerilla group,
also demanded the
presence of
representatives from the
so-called "Movement of
Colombians for Peace"
during the release.
The FARC also said in a
letter published on
Wednesday by the Nueva
Colombia News Agency (ANCOL)
on its website, that the
Colombian Army
improperly used the
labels of the ICRC on
July 2, 2008 when it
rescued 15 hostages,
including former
presidential candidate
Ingrid Betancourt and
three U.S. servicemen.
In December, the FARC
announced it would
release six hostages --
former state governor
Alan Jara, former local
lawmaker Sigifredo
Lopez, three policemen
and a soldier.
ICRC spokesman in
Colombia, Yves Heller,
hailed the FARC's
acceptance of its
participation.
"The ICRC is very happy
with the news, but it
wants to be cautious in
the release process,"
Heller said.
The ICRC's mediation
came after Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe
rejected the involvement
of any foreign
government in
negotiating the release
of the hostages.
An estimated 700 people
are currently being held
by FARC, including 28
high-profile hostages
"exchangeable" for its
members in prison.
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