Colombian President Hints At Hostage Swap

The release of the first hostage in over a year by Colombia’s largest rebel group, Farc.
Save
Colombian President Hints At Hostage Swap
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe waves to journalists after casting his vote during the legislative elections, in Bogota on March 14. Uribe is considering a hostage swap with Colombia's largest rebel group, Farc. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images)
3/30/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/colombia_97693130.jpg" alt="Colombian President Alvaro Uribe waves to journalists after casting his vote during the legislative elections, in Bogota on March 14. Uribe is considering a hostage swap with Colombia's largest rebel group, Farc. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images)" title="Colombian President Alvaro Uribe waves to journalists after casting his vote during the legislative elections, in Bogota on March 14. Uribe is considering a hostage swap with Colombia's largest rebel group, Farc. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1821594"/></a>
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe waves to journalists after casting his vote during the legislative elections, in Bogota on March 14. Uribe is considering a hostage swap with Colombia's largest rebel group, Farc. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images)

The release of the first hostage in over a year by Colombia’s largest rebel group, Farc, last Sunday, was followed by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe expressing the possibility of a ‘humanitarian’ exchange of jailed rebels for the remaining hostages.

Colombian media report that Uribe said that an exchange would only be possible under the condition that released rebels will not be returning to the Farc, adding that “a humanitarian agreement is not to strengthen terrorism, but to liberate the Colombians from terrorist actions.”

He said before such a deal can happen the “end of criminal activities” is needed in order to provide good faith, referring to a car bomb last week, which killed nine people. At present Farc still holds over 20 hostages. Negotiators hope that after a year of negotiations, this Tuesday Sergeant Pablo Emilio Moncayo will be set free after 12 years in captivity.