Colombia’s Catholic Church, the official mediator between the FARC rebels and the government on the release of hostages, has still not heard of the guerrillas on how to proceed withpromised liberations.
Secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Juan Vicente Cordoba, confirmed that a letter was sent to rebel leader ‘Alfonso Cano’ regarding the release of FARC hostages.
Newspaper El Espectador reports that the government for the total release of all members of the security forces in captivity, but that the FARC has not yes responded to the Church’s overtures.
“The FARC have not yet answered us; we await their prompt response,” said the Monsignor. He went on to plead, “brothers of the FARC we hope in you, trust in you, we extend our hand in kid gloves. Do not leave us with an outstretched hand, Colombia is asking with all its heart that you take this step.”
Cordoba said that the Church agrees with the struggle of the FARC for “very deep values such as fairness and justice”, but noted that their agreement was “in theory, not in practice.”
The government wants the FARC to release the 24 members of the security forces in captivity at once. The rebels expressed willingness to release hostages, but so far refused to give up all their prisoners.