Colombian rebel group ELN on Wednesday reportedly reminded Canadian mining firm Braeval that the release of their kidnapped employee depends on the returning of mining rights to local communities, not the company leaving the country.
According to a local media, the rebels released a statement on their website that said that “today in Washington through a press release, the Canadian multi-national mining company Braeval, which had acquired the rights to exploit gold mines in northern Colombia, decided to cease mining activities.”
The rebels also used the statement to reiterate their condition that Wober’s release would be subject to the mining rights being given back to local communities.
Colombia Reports was unable to verify statement because of apparent problems with the ELN’s website.
The statement reportedly came hours after the Canadian firm announced it had decided to cancel its operations due to “unfavorable markets.”
MORE: Canadian mining company leaves Colombia after employee kidnapping
Jernoc Wober, the abducted employee, was taken hostage in the northern Bolivar department in January in what the ELN have called an “action in defense of national sovereignty and national resources.”
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