FARC rebels discussed a prisoner swap with government envoys
for the first time since peace talks collapsed 20 months ago, as hostage
negotiations with another rebel group seemed to stall.
Roman Catholic Church emissaries met with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) to discuss the exchange of hundreds of prisoners, including at
least 20 Colombian politicians.
Separately, the Church mediators had been in talks with National Liberation
Army (ELN) rebels over the release of seven foreign tourists snatched from a
jungle hiking trail last month.
However, the talks with the ELN hit a potential snag Tuesday after Colombia's
government rejected an ELN call for international mediation. President Alvaro
Uribe backed the Catholic intermediaries' efforts.
Serious hurdles also lay in the path of the talks with FARC which had just
gotten underway when the FARC demanded the government turn over to them a large
area to facilitate prisoner exchanges.
The South American state is plagued by kidnappings, drug trafficking and
long-running conflicts between government forces, leftist guerrillas and
right-wing paramilitary armies.
The FARC wants to swap some 3,000 people, including former presidential
candidate Ingrid Betancourt who has dual Colombian and French citizenship. The
ELN and other extremist groups also take hostages.
Most of those held are government troops, police and elected officials.
In a statement Tuesday, FARC said it had met with three Roman Catholic priests
"in their capacity as delegates of the church and of the facilitatory
commission" seeking the release of prisoners.
Tunja Bishop Luis Augusto Castro, Monsignor Dario Munera and Dario Echeverry, a
priest, met with the rebels on an undisclosed date and location.
The priests have the backing of the Colombian government in their bid to
arrange a swap of prisoners, some of whom have been held for six years.
However, the FARC said it could lose interest if Uribe did not agree to a new
demilitarized zone. The government had relinquished a Switzerland-sized area to
FARC control until peace talks broke down 20 months ago. The FARC used the
enclave to rearm, train and hold hostages.
At the same time, FARC leader Ivan Marquez told the Anncol agency Colombian
rebels may release three US hostages captured in February in exchange for the
release of imprisoned guerrillas.
"We hope that they return soon to their homes in the United States, as a
result of a swap or a humanitarian exchange between our organization and the
Colombian government," Marquez said.
Separately, Uribe's administration rejected ELN's call Tuesday for
international mediation in talks on the seven foreign tourists captured
September 12.
In closing the door to foreign mediators, for now, the government reiterated
its confidence in the Church's brokers.
"I will do whatever I can for the Church's humanitarian mission and for a
rescue by the armed forces," Uribe told reporters.
Justice and Interior Minister Fernando Londono rejected any conditions the ELN
may impose on the talks.
The ELN is holding Israelis Beni Daniel, Ortaz Ohayon, Ido Joseph Guy and Erez
Altawil; Briton Mark Henderson; German national Reinhilt Weigel; and Spaniard
Asier Huegun.
Priests said they were awaiting word from the ELN.
"We can do nothing but hope, for now, for some news," Santa Marta
bishop Ugo Puccini said.