[NYTr] Crucial Day for Colombian Hostage Release

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Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com


Crucial Day for Colombian Hostage Release

Bogota, Dec 28 (Prensa Latina) The humanitarian operation for the
release of three hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, FARC, begins on Friday and can end in a few hours, turning a
landmark in the country's road to peace.

Many Colombians are convinced that the release of former vice
presidential candidate Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel, and ex legislator
Consuelo Gonzalez, is the first step for the guerrillas to hand over
other hostages.

This is the clearest result of the work started by Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez and Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba in August, following a
request of President Alvaro Uribe, who cancelled that mediation
abruptly three months later.

Last week FARC announced the release of three persons to make up for
the Colombian government's bad attitude towards Chavez, Cordoba, and
the relatives of the hostages.

Now everybody is hoping that the plan proposed by the Venezuelan
president to meet with the insurgency at the jungle and pick up, Clara,
Emmanuel, and Consuelo ends successfully, after receiving the approval
of Bogota authorities.

The humanitarian mission is formed by representatives of the Venezuelan
government and the International Red Cross, plus commissioners from
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and France, who will watch
over security and the total guarantee of the mission.

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