The operation to release six hostages held by the FARC began Friday
when the Colombian members of the commission in charge of the release
flew to Brazil where helicopters are ready for the long awaited pick up.
The commission, consisting of opposition senator and mediator Piedad Córdoba, members of the group ‘Colombians for Peace’, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and two Colombian journalists, left for Brazil at 10AM local time.
Once in Brazil, the commission members will board Brazilian helicopters and fly to San José del Guaviare in the south east of Colombia and then to Villavicencio in the center of the country. There they will wait on instructions from the FARC to complete the mission by picking up the hostages and taking them to freedom.
Córdoba announced Thursday the FARC will release the hostages in two legs. Sunday the rebels will release the four members of the security forces and Monday the rebels will release the two politicians.
Family members of the released will await their loved ones in Villavicencio.
After the delivery of the released hostages in Villavicencio, the helicopters will fly to Cali from where the operation to release the politicians will begin. They will be able to reunite with relatives in the capital of Valle del Cauca.
The FARC announced the release of the hostages December 21.