Left-wing rebel group ELN said on Monday that they will release a police officer who was captured in combat last week.
Rafael Eduardo Sierra , 19, has been in captivity for over a week after an ambush which resulted in the death of five other policeman. The attack occurred in the northwestern state of Antioquia and was originally thought to be carried by Colombia’s largest guerrilla force the FARC.
MORE: 5 policemen killed in FARC ambush in northwest Colombia
Sierra and his colleagues were on part of anti-narcotics operation in the area when they came under fire.
The group’s website confirmed that the policeman will be released and that he is in good health and has “been treated according to the rules of international humanitarian law.”
The ELN have recently been negotiating with the Colombian government to set up peace talks similar to those taking place with FARC in Cuba. One of the conditions of the government was that the ELN released kidnap victims, which the group subsequently did.
MORE: ELN peace talks with Colombia could take place in Ecuador
The ELN is Colombia’s second largest rebel group after the FARC and have been fighting the Colombian state since 1964.
Sources
- COMUNICADO: Combates Contra la Política Anti Drogas en el Bajo Cauca (ELN)
- Patrullero de policía secuestrado por el Eln sería liberado en los próximos días (Santa Fe)