|
Pio,
que putas es lo que esta pasando aca, ah?
R
==========================================
The ELN wants Pastrana to demilitarize a region of Bolivar province to hold a National Peace Convention before they will open direct talks with the government. ____________________ ========================================== AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE Saturday, 19 June 1999 Colombian rebel denies hostages to be freed without ransom ------------------------------- BOGOTA -- A Colombian rebel leader Saturday denied President Andres Pastrana's assertion earlier in the day that rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) had agreed to release hostages without demanding ransom. "I challenge President Andres Pastrana to say who from the ELN, at what time, in what medium and before whom had planted the notion that we are going to release all of the hostages without making a single demand," ELN leader Nicolas Rodriguez ("Gabino") told reporters in a telephone interview. Pastrana said earlier Saturday that Rodriguez had assured him, through intermediary Monsignor Dario Castrillon at the Vatican, that no ransom would be sought for the release of 64 hostages still held by the rebel group. It appeared to be a turnaround in the rebels' position. Late Friday, Pastrana broke off negotiations with the ELN after the group's second-in-command, Antonio Garcia, said the hostages would only be released in exchange for ransom money. The ELN still holds 16 passengers from an airplane they hijacked April 12, 39 people they kidnapped from a church on May 30 in the southwestern city of Cali, and nine members of a fishing club from the city of Barranquilla. Pastrana defended his comment to journalists, and detailed what Castrillon had told him about a rebel compromise. "First of all, the COCE (ELN's central command) and Gabino said they would not attack any more churches, and that they would respect all the churches," the president said. "Secondly, they said they would free each and every one of the people kidnapped from Bucamaranga and Cali, without asking for a penny, and that they would keep them alive," he said. "Finally, they said the hostages would be released to the government through the bishops of Cali and of Bucamaranga, who will be in charge of the process so that each and every one of the captives can be released as soon as possible," Pastrana said. He declined to answer questions after giving his statement. The ELN leader's denial caused confusion here, especially among the captives' relatives who believed the rebels had had a change of heart. The confusion began just hours after the ELN freed eight hostages seized from the hijacked plane. On Tuesday, the ELN also had released 33 hostages kidnapped from the church in Cali. The ELN wants Pastrana to demilitarize a region of Bolivar province to hold a National Peace Convention before they will open direct talks with the government. Copyright 1999 Agence France Presse |
