Relatives of hostages that the FARC have announced to free call on the Colombian government to accede to the rebels’ conditions for the release, reports ABC.
The guerrilla group said Wednesday in a statement published by pro-FARC website Anncol that it would free five men; a police major, an army corporal, a marine and two town councilors, provided that former Senator Piedad Cordoba was given permission to take part in the handover.
Cordoba was dismissed from her position in September due to her alleged collaboration with the FARC. She is accused of overstepping her government-sanctioned role as a negotiator with the rebels.
Angelica Lopez, wife of hostage army Corporal Salim Sanmiguel Valderrama, said “May the government give permission to Doña Piedad so that she can go ahead with the formalities for the release of my husband.”
Nohemi Julio, mother of hostage police Major Guillermo Solorzano, said she hoped that the government of President Juan Manuel Santos would “accommodate” the requests made by the guerrilla group.
The families expressed their joy at the news of the release of the men, the longest-imprisoned of whom has been held since May 2008.