The Catholic Church, designated to mediate the deadlocked release of FARC hostages, asks the rebels to speak out on their willingness to move forward.
Monsignor Juan Vicente Cordoba of the church’s assembly of bishops told W Radio he hopes the FARC allow the church to mediate as agreed with former mediator, opposition Senator Piedad Cordoba and the Uribe administration.
The clergy asks the FARC to make a statement on the new government policy to let the church lead the liberation process, accompanied by Cordoba and the Red Cross.
“We are reaching out to those brothers and compatriots by saying you are missing. The moment we hoped for has arrived….a lot has been achieved and the only ones missing are the FARC,” the clergy told the radio station.
According to the church’s representative, all parties involved in the process must make sacrifices and explained the FARC their demand that Cordoba is involved in negotiations will not be granted.
“Piedad Cordoba will accompany and for part of the operation and team that will accompany [the church]. What happens is that the church coordinates [the operation] and has assumed its leadership role. I believe it is an interesting formula wherein we try to look, for the sake of Colombia, the hostages and their families, mechanisms to achieve its goal [of having the hostages released]”, the clergy said.
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.