The Red Cross said Monday it is ready to recover captured French journalist Romeo Langlois from the rebel group the FARC as soon as it knows the time and coordinates.
Red Cross spokesperson Maria Cristina Rivera told Colombia Reports, “We are ready to carry out the recovery operation in whatever form [the FARC] tell us.”
Colombia’s largest guerrilla group has asked the Red Cross to coordinate the rescue operation.
According to Rivera the organization has all necessary vehicles and personnel standing by. “The next step is to know the time and location so we can plan logistics.” said Rivera.
The Red Cross spokesperson could not give a date for Langlois’ release but said, “The most important thing is that Romeo is freed and that we have everything ready to make this happen as soon as possible.”
Speaking on the FARC’s request that Colombian ex-senator Peidad Cordoba and a delegate of the French government be part of the operation, Rivera said, “It’s not a problem. We’ve carried out operations where we’ve coordinated various parts. We’ve always had a role mediating various roles.”
The France 24 reporter was captured while filming a documentary on counter-narcotics operations when the military platoon he was embedded with was attacked by FARC forces April 28, wounding Langlois in the arm.