The Colombian president Álvaro Uribe accuses ‘a political leader’ and the FARC of deceiving the country. He didn’t want to mention the name of the politician, but must be referring to the Liberal politician Piedad Córdoba. According to the president, the FARC and the politician are falsely promising new liberations of hostages who are still being held by the guerrilla group.
Uribe expressed his accusations after a group of intellectuals led by Córdoba wrote a second letter to the FARC in order to get the hostages free. The first letter was written a few months ago and was answered positively by the FARC.
The president however stressed that it is the government and the army who have the task to find the hostages. Carlos Lozano, editor in chief of the communist weekly Voz, said that Uribe with his declarations is closing the door to a humanitarian agreement. In such an agreement hostages are exchanged with FARC-members who are in prison.
Iván Cepeda, spokesman of the movement of victims of crimes committed by the state, stated that Uribe has to explain what he means. “The president always has attacked the initiatives of the civil society to find a solution to the armed conflict,” Cepeda said.