[NYTr] Colomb, Venez Still Waiting for FARC to Release Hostages

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

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

Colombia FARC May Release Hostages Today

# Villavicencio, Colombia, Dec 30 (Prensa Latina) The release of three
people detained by the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)
could happen on Sunday in the next hours, as soon as the insurgency
announces the coordinates of the spot to hand them over

In La Vanguardia airport, in this city, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos
Restrepo announced in a press conference that Venezuelan ex Minister
Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, direct representative of President Hugo Chavez,
would arrive in Villavicencio on Sunday.

As it was planned, Rodriguez Chacin would be the bearer of the
coordinates, which will be reported to the ICRC (International
Committee of the Red Cross) to immediately execute the last phase of
the Enmanuel operation, as Chavez called it.

Restrepo announced that two other Venezuelan helicopters and a plane
will also land soon to reinforce the mechanism to rescue Clara Rojas,
ex vice presidential candidate, her son Enmanuel, and ex Congresswoman
Consuelo Gonzalez.

The official said the Colombian government only requires that the ICRC
reports to it when the operation will start, and if more guarantees are
needed to carry it out.

He said the national authorities" position is of total opening, to
offer the required security guarantees for a successful release of the
three FARC prisoners.

He also highlighted that there is no deadline to fulfill the operation
and that the periods for the Venezuelan aircrafts to stay in Colombian
territory are just routine procedures.

Representatives of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, France,
and Switzerland that will act as guarantors of the successful release
of the detainees, headed by ex Argentine President Nestor Kirchner.

ef iom rc PL-11

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Expectation for Humanitarian Mission Continues

Bogota, Dec 30 (Prensa Latina) The arrival at the Colombian city of
Villavicencio of a large international delegation increased the
expectation here for the upcoming release of three hostages held by the
Colombia Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).

Commissioners from seven countries are participating in so-called
Operation Emmanuel, just as called by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,
and arrived in Villavicencio after knowing the exact place where the
delivery of the three prisoners will possibly be.

>From there, in a moment not yet defined on Sunday, they will go to a
certain place in the Colombian jungle to pick up Clara Rojas, former
vice presidential candidate, her son Emmanuel, and former congresswoman
Consuelo Gonzalez.

Three planes identified with the logo of the International Red Cross
arrived in Villavicencio, coming from Caracas, with representatives of
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, France and Switzerland.

As soon as the coordinates are known, helicopters should take off and
pick up the prisoners, and this could be the culmination of a decisive
humanitarian mission to go forward in a prisoner exchange process
between the government of Colombia and the FARC, fostered by President
Hugo Chavez and the international community.

ef tac rc PL-4