Home Page | Photos | Video | Forum | Most Popular | Special Reports | Biz China Weekly
Make Us Your Home Page
Most Searched: G20  CPC  South China Sea  Belt and Road Initiative  AIIB  

Colombian rebel group ELN says hostage release depends on promised pardon

Source: Xinhua   2016-11-08 13:01:18

BOGOTA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) said Monday it would free hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez if the government first carries out a promised pardon of two jailed guerrilla leaders.

The rebel group ELN and the government are set to begin peace talks to end decades of conflicts, and the ELN said it wants the two leaders to be at the negotiating table.

Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, the ELN's top commander, said the government of President Juan Manuel Santos has already agreed to the pardon in an agreement signed "in the presence of guarantors Cuba, Venezuela, Norway, Chile and Brazil."

"Everything is ready to be carried out, as long as the government complies with what was agreed, pardoning the two detained ELN guerrillas, exactly as contained in the documents," he added.

On Friday, Pablo Beltran, the ELN's chief peace negotiator, said Sanchez would be freed this week, but his release depends on the promised pardon.

The peace talks between the government and the ELN were to start on Oct. 27 in Quito, Ecuador, but Santos called them off, saying that the rebels failed to meet the pre-condition of releasing Sanchez.

Editor: xuxin
Related News
           
Photos  >>
Video  >>
  Special Reports  >>
Xinhuanet

Colombian rebel group ELN says hostage release depends on promised pardon

Source: Xinhua 2016-11-08 13:01:18
[Editor: huaxia]

BOGOTA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) said Monday it would free hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez if the government first carries out a promised pardon of two jailed guerrilla leaders.

The rebel group ELN and the government are set to begin peace talks to end decades of conflicts, and the ELN said it wants the two leaders to be at the negotiating table.

Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, the ELN's top commander, said the government of President Juan Manuel Santos has already agreed to the pardon in an agreement signed "in the presence of guarantors Cuba, Venezuela, Norway, Chile and Brazil."

"Everything is ready to be carried out, as long as the government complies with what was agreed, pardoning the two detained ELN guerrillas, exactly as contained in the documents," he added.

On Friday, Pablo Beltran, the ELN's chief peace negotiator, said Sanchez would be freed this week, but his release depends on the promised pardon.

The peace talks between the government and the ELN were to start on Oct. 27 in Quito, Ecuador, but Santos called them off, saying that the rebels failed to meet the pre-condition of releasing Sanchez.

[Editor: huaxia]
010020070750000000000000011100001358139041