Wednesday, February 27, 2008

FARC releases Gloria Polanco, Jose Eduardo Gechem, Orlando Beltran and Luis Eladio Perez

Bogota, Feb 27 (Prensa Latina) The Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) handed over former lawmakers Gloria Polanco, Jose Eduardo Gechem, Orlando Beltran and Luis Eladio Perez to a humanitarian mission on Wednesday.

In a news conference in this capital, International Red Cross representative Barbara Hintermann confirmed the guerrillas' release of the four politicians in the southern department of Guaviare.

Hintermann said one of the Red Cross representatives who traveled as part of the humanitarian mission called her up to confirm the release of the politicians, who will be taken to Venezuela. The news was also confirmed by Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

According to the plan, after picking up the group, the two helicopters of the Venezuelan Air Force bearing International Red Cross logos would wait some time for the guerrilla patrol to go deep into the jungle. They would take off for the Santo Domingo base in Venezuela, and from there to Caracas, where they will be welcomed by close relatives and would probably meet with President Hugo Chavez.

The FARC announced the release of the former lawmakers as a unilateral gesture to acknowledge the humanitarian efforts made by President Chavez and Liberal Senator Piedad Cordoba.

This is the second time in less than two months that the Colombian guerrillas make such a gesture. Politicians Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez were released in January under very similar conditions.

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