Colombia's ELN Rebels Hopes To Free Hostage Next Week
Umer Jamshaid Published November 05, 2016 | 02:10 AM
BOGOTA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Nov, 2016 ) - Colombian rebel group ELN said Friday it hopes to free hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez next week, clearing the way to begin peace talks with the government.
"We hope it will be in the coming week," said Pablo Beltran, the chief peace negotiator for the National Liberation Army (ELN), in comments to Caracol Radio. He said a "humanitarian commission" including international mediators, government and rebel negotiators, and representatives of the Catholic Church had been set up to oversee Sanchez's release.
President Juan Manuel Santos's government had been due to open peace talks with the ELN, Colombia's second-largest rebel group, on October 27. But he called them off when the rebels failed to release Sanchez, which he had set as a pre-condition.
Beltran said there had been "two differing interpretations" of the two sides' deal on opening talks. Potentially complicating matters further, some sources say the ELN is still holding at least two other hostages: a doctor named Edgar Torres and a businessman named Octavio Figueroa.
Beltran said the rebels had "very few" remaining hostages. "They are so few that these cases will be resolved sooner rather than later," he said. Santos, who won the Nobel Peace prize last month, has faced a series of recent setbacks in his efforts to bring "total peace" to Colombia after a 52-year conflict.
Voters rejected a peace deal with the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in an October 2 referendum after opponents jeered it as too soft on the guerrillas.
And the talks with the ELN are on hold over the hostage issue. Both the FARC and ELN have used ransom kidnappings and drug trafficking to finance themselves over the years. Founded in 1964, they are the last two leftist guerrilla groups involved in a messy, multi-sided conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Team from Gaza mediator Egypt heads to Israel: source
20 minutes ago -
Xi tells Blinken US, China should be 'partners, not rivals'
20 minutes ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister freed on bail in corruption case
39 minutes ago -
Vietnam National Assembly head resigns amid graft purge
40 minutes ago -
Calls for mosque demolition weigh on India's Muslim voters
49 minutes ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
50 minutes ago
-
China's EV execs bullish on Western pressure at Beijing car show
59 minutes ago -
EU toughens rules on fashion retailer Shein
60 minutes ago -
Xi meets U.S. secretary of state in Beijing
1 hour ago -
Ukrainian minister detained over suspected corruption: prosecutors
1 hour ago -
Golf: PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
1 hour ago -
Pilot seriously injured after vintage plane crash in Western Australia
2 hours ago