[EGP] EGP PRESS RELEASE : European Greens call for immediate release of all Colombian hostages

19.12.2007

European Greens reiterate demand for immediate release of all Colombian hostages

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today welcomed reports that the FARC guerrilla in Colombia is to release 3 hostages, including Clara Rojas and her son Emmanuel. However, the Spokespersons hope that the release happens very soon and is followed by the release of all of the hostages held by FARC, including Ingrid Betancourt.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek said: “We hope that FARC keeps its promise to release Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel, who was born in captivity, and Consuelo González de Perdomo, a former Liberal Party congresswoman. Clara Rojas was the campaign manager and running mate of Ingrid Betancourt, leader of the Colombian Green Party (Partido Verde-Oxigeno) and Presidential candidate, when they were abducted by FARC in February 2002. We hope that Clara, Emmanuel and Consuelo are released soon so that they can be reunited with their families. However, we very much hope that this is the beginning of a process that will lead to the speedy release of all those hostages currently held by FARC, including Ingrid Betancourt. We call once again on FARC to immediately release all hostages.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts added: “We hope that the mediation work carried out by President Chavez of Venezuela and the Colombian Senator, Piedad Cordoba, continues, despite the decision by the Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, to put an end to their mission. We call on President Uribe to move ahead with plans to create a limited demilitarised zone where negotiations between the government and FARC can be held. We hope that the Colombian Government now realises that there can be no purely military solution to its lengthy conflict with FARC and that they must focus all their efforts on reaching a humanitarian agreement and political solution. That is the only way of ending the armed conflict and violence which has brought so much pain and suffering to the Colombian people for decades. We in the EGP will continue to work with all those in Colombia and worldwide campaigning for a humanitarian agreement and the release of all political prisoners and hostages.”

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

Tel no :+32 2 626 0724

Mobile:+32 477 902 023

email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org