Hostage Release

Colombian authorities have came out saying that other countries should not be negotiating with the FARC for hostage release without consent from Colombia. In a sense I agree with this because just like I expected sovereignty of Ecuador to be respected, more so I care for Colombia's sovereignty. However, Colombia should allow these processes to proceed as the hostages need to be released.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6412360.html
Colombia rejects other countries' arrangements to free hostages
The Colombian government Thursday rejected other country’s arrangements made in a bid to seek the release of hostages held by the rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

It is "unacceptable" that other governments seek or make contacts with FARC without Colombia's authorization, Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said.

"The international community is aware of FARC's terrorist actions, and the damage they has done and how they hide in other countries", Araujo said.

Araujo said he regretted the announcement of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa that he would seek the liberation of FARC's hostages.

"Any kind of activity with FARC must be done with Colombia's authorization. It is unacceptable that any person comes to make unauthorized arrangements because these are inconvenient for our security," Araujo insisted.

Correa has said he would seek for the liberation of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped by FARC in 2002.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also said he would try to re-establish contacts with the FARC rebels in an attempt to free more hostages.

Betancourt's family regretted Araujo's declaration and they affirmed that Ecuador's arrangements have humanitarian aims.

FARC has offered the exchange of 45 hostages for the release of 500 jailed guerillas. The Colombian government rejected the proposal.

Source:Xinhua

By romy on May 16, 2008, 08:59 in Politics & the war.

tomtom33 says on May 16, 2008, 09:26:

No, the only reason that the hostages were taken in the first place is that some people will pay in one way or another for their release. If everyone refused to pay anything for any hostage release, there would be no more hostage-taking.

The French or whoever can pay the FARC to release all the hostages tomorrow. The next time the FARC needs money. What do you suppose that they will do?

romy says on May 16, 2008, 09:29:

"If everyone refused to pay anything for any hostage release, there would be no more hostage-taking" that's not entirely true, in a sense quite a few of the hostages could be seen as prisoners of war.

tomtom33 says on May 16, 2008, 09:33:

What war?

slguy says on May 16, 2008, 09:37:

prisoners of war?

victims of terrorism, plain and simple - unless you're a FARC apologist.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

billyb says on May 16, 2008, 09:48:

I could see the soldiers captured in battle as POWs, but any civilian is a just a hostage and victim of terrorism.

slguy says on May 16, 2008, 09:58:

hmmmmm....does that mean we should begin expecting FARC to at least read the geneva conventions?

i also don't see our troops today, injured or killed in iraq, as casualties of war, but as victims of terrorism.

maybe i'm crazy, but "war" for me implies two sovereign nations - not one nation fighting narcotrafficking scumbags.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

billyb says on May 16, 2008, 10:44:

"hmmmmm....does that mean we should begin expecting FARC to at least read the geneva conventions?"

Their treatment of their hostages and military prisoners are beyond despicable, it's amazing how there still are people that make excuses for them, but in my mind I can see military prisoners being differentiated from the civilian hostages. And don't get me wrong, I want to see all of them released immidiately.

CatGirl says on May 16, 2008, 12:08:

Either the picture that we are getting via media is warped and we are all missing many peices to a convoluted puzzle and/or Hugo is a loose cannon....it appears he definitely enjoys dancing to the beat of his own drum.
Does he do this type of stuff for the self imposed glory or is he just all over the map? His behavior is very irratic -
When I read the media accounts of him - it is like he just wakes up every day looking for moving targets and shoots from the hip.
If there is any truth to this type of leadership style - it is only effective for one person...egocentric.
It is hard for me to tell if he behaves this way because "he can" or because he is intentionally compartmentalized from his peers.....(cause he's so wacked?).
If Hugo is doing this simply because "he can".... is this behavior a distraction from something else yet to be revealed (even to wacko?)......

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

slguy says on May 16, 2008, 12:12:

cg, my favorite columnist consistently refers to "venezuela's narcissist leninist leader".

accurate description, in my view.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

buggy says on May 16, 2008, 15:38:

"prisoners of war?

victims of terrorism, plain and simple - unless you're a FARC apologist."

If you do not share the fascist opinions of slguy, you are FARCs.

“Ojos y oídos para Norteamérica / para su propio pueblo, sordo y ciego" Pablo Neruda

buggy says on May 16, 2008, 15:39:

"i also don't see our troops today, injured or killed in iraq, as casualties of war, but as victims of terrorism."

Jajaja; how many dead under the Us bombs ?

“Ojos y oídos para Norteamérica / para su propio pueblo, sordo y ciego" Pablo Neruda

buggy says on May 16, 2008, 15:41:

Why have you deleted the big red nose of slguy? It is not a personal attack. It is a politic argument against one payaso.

“Ojos y oídos para Norteamérica / para su propio pueblo, sordo y ciego" Pablo Neruda

slguy says on May 16, 2008, 16:10:

oh come on, cassini! you can do better than those feeble attempts, can't you?

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

billyb says on May 16, 2008, 16:33:

jajaj, no he can't, we are seeing somebody at their limit.

CatGirl says on May 16, 2008, 18:04:

SlguyÑ Puuuufecto description. Short, sweet and to the point

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent