Colombia’s second largest guerrilla group ELN on Wednesday reiterated its intention to “soon release” a Canadian hostage on the condition that the multinational company Braeval Mining cease its activity in the north of Colombia.
“The National Liberation Army (ELN) maintains it will soon return the Canadian citizen and hope to reach a prompt solution to the seizure of four mining titles belonging to the communities of Casa de Barro, Mina Seca, la Nevera and las Nieves,” said the Darío Ramírez Castro Front via a statement on the rebel group’s official website.
The announcement refers to a previous proposal to release 49 year-old engineer, Jernoc Wobert, if the Canadian gold mining company agreed to halt mining operations in the northern department of Bolivar.
In the statement, the rebels criticized the Colombian and Canadian governments’ failure to investigate the complaints regarding the seizure of mining titles by Braeval Mining.
Wobert was kidnapped on January, 18 in a rural area of the municipality of Norosi in the department of Bolivar, along with two Peruvians and three Colombians who were released a month later. The Canadian is the only known foreign citizen currently held captive by the ELN.