Seven government officials of a Cauca town who were kidnapped by the
FARC Wednesday afternoon were released hours later after the local
indigenous population organized a massive search pressuring the guerrillas to
release the abductees.
After the indigenous heard about the abduction they mobilized 400 men, women and children to find the kidnappers, resulting in the release of the government officials the same evening, indigenous leader Vilma Almendra told W Radio.
“When we heard of the kidnapping we organized men, women and children and began the pursuit. Without a gun, only with the pressure of the word we secured their release,” Almendra said.
The indigenous returned the officials to authorities on Thursday morning after letting them spend the night at their settlement.
The tribe insists on its neutrality in Colombia’s conflict. “We reject an army that commits extrajudicial executions and we reject an army that says it’s the people’s army, but kidnaps people. We are neutral and demand our position is respected,” the indigenous leader added.