The Washington Office on Latin America is heartened by the release on Wednesday of four more hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, the second hostage liberation since the beginning of this year. The freed hostages, all former members of the Colombian Congress, are Gloria Polanco, Orlando Beltrán, Luis Eladio Peréz and Jorge Eduardo Géchem.
WOLA welcomes the role that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba and the governments of Colombia and Venezuela played in this important humanitarian effort.
Our organization stands in solidarity with the remaining hostages including U.S. citizens Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes and their families who continue to endure enormous suffering as a result of their captivity.
Contact:
Gimena Sanchez, Senior Associate for Colombia, (202) 797-2171 or (202) 489-1702