The Red Cross is preparing the possible liberation of two German nationals kidnapped in northern Colombia in November of last year.
The International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the protocol discussed with Colombia’s defense ministry outlined practical matters in regard to a liberation, like the suspension of military activity in the zone where the ELN rebels were believed to have detained the Germans.
The two brothers were kidnapped in the war-torn Catatumbo region in northern Colombia, where ELN rebels and insurgents from the larger rebel group FARC have a significant presence. ELN rebels claimed the two were “foreign intelligence agents until proven otherwise,” while Colombian and German authorities said the two men were tourists who arrived in Colombia as a part of a world tour.
MORE: ELN demands proof kidnapped Germans are not spies
The rebel group is also still holding the Canadian national Jernoc captive somewhere in the northern Bolivar department. The Canadian citizen was captured in January together with five other gold miners, all of whom were released in February. The ELN, however, said “the Canadian will stay in [captivity].”
MORE: Canadian hostage will remain in captivity: ELN
The ELN, with some 2,500 armed members and a large militia support network, has been fighting the Colombian state for nearly half a century.