Venezuela's Chavez seeks to mediate release of Colombia's rebel-held hostages

Source: Associated Press

Venezuela's Chavez seeks to mediate release of Colombia's rebel-held hostages

The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela: Relatives of hostages held for years by Colombian rebels met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in hopes he might be able to help negotiate the captives' release.

Sixteen family members including the mother of kidnapped Colombian-French politician Ingrid Betancourt, told Chavez late Monday they hope he can broker a deal between the Colombian government and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

"I think it's the moment for Venezuela to help us," Yolanda Pulecio said in an interview published Tuesday by the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. Her daughter, a former Colombian presidential candidate, has been held captive since 2002.

Chavez offered the relatives "all the help we can give." He said he is optimistic and willing to hold talks with FARC leader Manuel Marulanda or whomever the rebels choose.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/21/america/LA-GEN-Venezuela-Colombia-Hostages.php

This is Colombia's internal affair. Venezuela certainly is not obliged to take a position on Colombia's internal war, and should not intervene.

If nothing else, it could shame the Colombian government into attending to these people.

But I think that a head of state should perhaps not be the one to do this. Colombia-Venezuela relations are a delicate matter. I support Chavez politically, but I think that Venezuela should not adopt a standpoint on Colombia's policy toward FARC.

has done squat.

I have no idea how this will play out. But I'm glad someone is taking this risk if it means these people have a chance to be freed. That won't solve all the issues, for sure. But it's a step.

in Colombia in order to assure their safe passage in and out, to negotiate, and they have been completely blown off. It's only appropriate that they should be guaranteed assurance they will not be harmed if they come forward to speak with the Colombian government.

Especially in light of the fact the Colombian government has guaranteed only the lightest slap on the wrist to the death squads, leaving them only to face brief prison terms, after all those filthy, evil massacres of Colombian peasants, and the theft of their land, and continued terrorism all these years, culminating in the insult to human intelligence that after they apologize, repent, turn in their guns, perhaps do a short stint in the local slammer, these death squad right-wingers can even run for office.

FARC has sought safe passage to and from a meeting place, with assurance the right-wing government will pull back far enough to allow them to travel in and out of the place.

This double standard is expected, considering the well known close cooperation between the Colombian government and the death squads which no one dares to deny any longer. Uribe needs to transcend his old ties to the paramilitaries if anyone is going to really take him seriously.

Cuba has attempted to play host previously, to provide that neutral area which FARC could meet with Colombian officials, but it hasn't panned out.

The fact that Venezuela will undertake this now is somewhat impressive, considering the fact that Colombian right-wing death squads have already been caught hiding in Venezuela, fully armed, prepartory to insurgency against Chavez, designed by Venezuelan opposition figures, like Roberto Alonso, Cuban Venezuelan right-wing a-hole.

of good will??

Colombia is not going to cede additional territory to FARC under the pretense of safe passage. They need not have "safe passage" to release hostages.

they can meet in Venezuela, Cuba, France, the US, or the moon to undertake "negotiations" in general. but the FARC does NOT require safe passage to release the hostages.

reappearing and continuing their filthy work, doing business as other groups.

Union workers are still being slaughtered, and Human Rights Watch noted the death squads are most surely not out of business by a long shot, in spite of their lies, and the lies of the Colombian government concerning the end of the death squads. No one believes that, in the cold hard light of reality.

the FARC has completely refused to engage in the peace process

I do not think that foreign actors should be taking actions concerning Colombia's internal war. Colombians should determine the destiny of their own country.

That said, I do not have faith in FARC as a progressive force, nor do I have faith in the old Colombian state as a democratic institution. Unfortunately, the people of Colombia are wedged in a very difficult situation, and many are committing serious crimes under the signboard of "political struggle."

but believe me Colombians are resilient and there has been some reason to be optimistic (slightly) recently.

COLOMBIA: Abducted priest found 'disoriented and heavily drugged'
August 21, 2007

The Colombian priest, the Rev. Ricardo Morales Gaviria, who was abducted August 20 by outlaw militias has been found disoriented and heavily drugged, Colombia Bishop Francisco Duque-Gomez confirmed August 21. He is being evaluated at a local hospital.

The Diocese of Colombia made an urgent plea for Gaviria's release August 20. Writing on behalf of the diocese, Duque condemned the abduction and reminded the culprits of their responsibility, under the Human Rights Declaration, to respect and guard Gaviria's life and safety.

Gaviria, 65, has registered as a candidate for Mayor, but it is unclear whether or not this was a motive for the abduction.

Colombia has one of the world's highest abduction rates. According to the Pais Libre Foundation, which helps families of abductees, there are currently more than 3,000 people in captivity in the South American country.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_89242_ENG_HTM.htm