The Colombian government Tuesday authorized the International Red Cross and the Catholic Church to begin negotiations with the FARC over the long awaited release of hostages.
High Commissioner for Peace Frank Pearl announced at a press conference that the government will “provide the guarantees necessary and reiterates its disposition and will for the process to begin as quickly as possible”.
Negotiations will begin for the liberation of FARC hostages Pablo Emilio Moncayo Cabrera, soldier Jose Daniel Calvo, and the body of Julian Ernesto Guevara.
The government’s announcement breaks months of a stalemate in negotiations. The FARC first announced they would liberate hostages over six months ago. Negotiations stalled because the government and the FARC were unable to reach a compromise on the terms of the hostage release.
Following Pearl’s announcement Gustavo Moncayo, the father of hostage Pablo Emilio Moncayo said he had been informed of an unconfirmed report that his son had escaped from the FARC.
Gustavo Moncayo reiterated to Caracol Radio that the identity of the escaped hostage had not yet been verified.