In a statement released by leftist press agency Anncol on Monday, the FARC indicated that they are ready to free hostages Pablo Emilio Moncayo and Josue Daniel Calvo, and blame the Colombian government for the delay in the release.
The statement, signed by the FARC’s secretariat, explained that “despite the intense military rescue operations and all the government’s delaying tactics, we are ready to liberate soldiers Moncayo and Calvo.”
The FARC go on to claim that “Immediately after the government makes public the text [of the agreement of the hostage release] with the security protocols, and they are satisfactory,” the guerrillas will release the two hostages.
Furthermore, the FARC claim that one hostage Moncayo, is very sick and his condition is worsening.
The statement concludes by saying that “the government must end its campaign of disinformation and publish protocols to rapidly begin the unilateral release phase.”
The FARC statement comes after the Colombian government said Friday that police and military operations cannot be suspended during the congressional elections on March 14, in order for the liberation to take place.
One of the FARC’s conditions for the hostage release is that all military and police operations in the liberation area be suspended.
Negotiations for Moncayo and Calvo’s release have been going on for almost a year now. The FARC first announced that it would release the hostages in April 2009.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has accused the FARC of postponing the hostage release until close to the national elections in order to discredit the government.
Moncayo has been in FARC captivity since 1997, while Calvo has been held since April last year. Both are Colombian soldiers.
In addition to the hostages, the FARC will also release the remains of policeman Julian Guevara, who died in 2006 after eight years in captivity.