The Peace and Humanitarian Commission of Colombia's Senate said Thursday that it has asked the rebel militants to allow the International Red Cross (IRC) to treat sick hostages.
"We demand, based on compliance of humanitarian principles that also obliges them, to allow an IRC medical mission to attend all Colombia's hostages," the legislators said. The legislators signed the request on Sunday.
The request came after possible life evidence of the hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was captured during an operation late last month, which led to the arrest of three suspected FARC members.
The videos, photos and letters of the hostages showed some were in bad health conditions, including French-Colombian citizen and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.
The law makers called on Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and public opinions to stop politicizing the dialogues with FARC to make them strictly humanitarian.
"Our kidnapped countrymen's image must move the conscience and humanity of each one of the 44 million Colombians. We must not deny the humanitarian tragedy Colombia lives with its hostages," they said.
If verified authentic, the videos and photos will prove that Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. citizens, a politician and many soldiers are still alive in the jungle.
The Americans were abducted by FARC rebels after their plane went down in southern Colombia in 2003.
The Colombian government and FARC have conducted rounds of negotiations to exchange imprisoned rebels for FARC hostages, but the negotiations all ended with no result.
At least 50 FARC hostages are expected to re-gain their freedom under the framework of the humanitarian exchange facilitated by Spain, France, Switzerland and Venezuela.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article