Colombia's largest biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, (FARC) rejected the government’s proposal to free jailed guerillas in a possible exchange with hostages. Via a statement through Colombia’s Anncol news agency, FARC leaders claimed that freeing of 200 imprisoned guerillas is a smokescreen set up by President Alvaro Uribe:
“The FARC reject the false promises of those who seek to convert the national clamor for an exchange into propaganda to cure the wounds caused by the neoliberal and terrorist policies of an illegal regime like Uribe's.”
The statement also called for the creation of a demilitarized zone for possible negotiations, which is something Uribe has always ruled out.
In the meantime, France’s government has increased its pressure against the FARC to seek an amicable solution to free kidnap victims including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt. Despite this and rumors of Betancourt’s “imminent release”, Betancourt’s husband told Chilean radio that he doubts that the Colombian government “will ever sit at the negotiation table with guerillas and work out a humanitarian plan to free kidnap victims.”
Sources (English)- BBC News, Reuters AlertNet, SignOnSanDiego.com, New York Times
Sources (Spanish)- Anncol, RCN, El Tiempo
Image- El Tiempo (Government officials greeting a small group of guerillas that were about to be freed from a Colombian prison)
Why the sudden interest from France? And while Ms. Betancourt's situation is deplorable, what about other hostages? Sigh.... U.S. interference has been nothing but detrimental. What will French interference result in?
ReplyDeleteBest case scenario- French intervention gets not only Betancourt freed but also Clara Rojas and her son. this serves as an impetus for a further deal with non-french hostages.
ReplyDeleteWorse case scenario- French intervention becomes useless and the Uribe admin leans increasingly towards more militarization and looking at freeing hostages via military operations.
My take- French intervention will be useless without increasd diplomatic pressure from the U.S. E.U. & israel on the FARC and colombian government. Even then, neither FARC Commanders or Uribe have been willing to be too flexible. Hence, I think we'll be back on square one when all is said and done.