Colombia’s High Commissioner of Reintegration Frank Pearl has taken
over the coordination of the release of Sigifredo López, the former
Valle deputy who’s been held captive by the FARC since 2002. Pearl
replaces High Commissioner of Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo.
The High Commissioner of Peace was withdrawn from the liberation process after the chaotic liberation of hostages on Sunday and Tuesday.
Restrepo resigned after his dismissal, but President Álvaro Uribe has not publicly accepted or denied the resignation.
According to CM& Noticias, Uribe personally assigned Pearl to assume responsibility for the release.
Pearl started his coordination work Wednesday night by talking to mediator Piedad Córdoba and the International Committee of the Red Cross, who are responsible for the pick up of López.
Sigifredo López is the sixth hostage of Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC that is to be released this week.