Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC announced the release of six of
their high profile hostages as a “demonstration of will” to reach a
political solution to Colombia’s violent conflict.
The most prominent of the announced releases are those of Valle de Cauca deputy Sigifredo López, the only surviving deputy of a group of twelve that was kidnapped from the Valle del Cauca Department Assembly in April 2002 and Alan Jara, former governor of the Meta department.
The FARC also announced the release of three police officers and a soldier.
The six will be released in two stages to be determined by the guerrillas, a press statement published on the website of the Bolivarian Press Agency said.
The FARC is currently exchanging letters with a group of 150 Colombian intellectuals, led by opposition senator Piedad Córdoba. The lawmaker — together with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez — mediated the release of seven other hostages earlier this year.
The correspondents seek a way out of Colombia’s 44-year violent conflict, alternative to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe’s Democratic Security policy. The release of the hostages is a gesture to stimulate this initiative, the FARC said.
The six hostages who are said to be released are part of a group of 28 hostages the FARC wanted to exchange for 500 imprisoned guerrillas. Colombia’s largest rebel group is holding approximately 700 people hostages, mostly civilians that are kept for ransom.