Colombia’s Vice President said Monday the FARC deceived the Colombian people by failing to free two hostages on Sunday as promised. He demanded the immediate release of the pair.
“The FARC failed the country with what happened. First with the two-month delay in delivery and second with the proceedings yesterday … If the guerrillas had the intention they could have left them at any road in the country, in charge of the community. They will have to return them all,” Garzon told radio station La F.M.
The vice president stressed that his government had done everything to make possible the operation to release of five hostages which the FARC promised in December, and that the blame was all on the rebel group.
“It must be stressed that President [Juan Manuel] Santos delivered, but that the FARC deceived the Colombians and deception is always conscious,” the VP said.
On Sunday, the FARC failed to deliver two hostages as planned. According to government representative Eduardo Pizarro, the FARC had given coordinates to pick up the hostages in the department of Tolima, while the hostages were in Cauca.
Mediator Piedad Cordoba asked the government to continue the operation at 6AM, but was told that military operations in the region would be resumed as agreed and that the government first wanted to evaluate the situation.
Families of the hostages expressed their grief, but said they remained hopeful of a good outcome.
The other three hostages whose release was scheduled were freed on Wednesday and Friday, and another was released Sunday in a surprise move by the rebels.