Colombian peace activists Piedad Cordoba and Marleny Orjuela have spoken of the international effort underway ahead of the release announced by the FARC of a group of ten hostages held for over twelve years.
The announcement came Sunday and included a pledge from the rebels to abandon kidnapping civilians to finance its armed struggle against the Colombian state. The move is seen as a strong sign that the group is seeking peace negotiations.
Both Cordoba and Orjuela are prominent members of the organization Colombians for Peace, which was nominated by the FARC to act as an intermediary in the process which will also include the International Committee of the Red Cross and the governments of Colombia and Brazil.
Orjuela told Caracol Radio, “I receive with respect the decision of the FARC to include me in the group that will receive the military
Former Colombian senator Cordoba, who was barred from holding political office in 2010 due to alleged ties to the FARC, has been a consistent campaigner for peace throughout her career and urged the government to heed the gesture from the rebels ahead of her own trip to Brazil to lay down the framework of the release operation.