Colombia’s Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez claims that his dismissal of Senator Piedad Cordoba in November led to the FARC’s decision this week to release five hostages, reports El Espectador.
Ordoñez said that he was happy that the hostages were being released but urged the guerrilla group to free all the remaining prisoners.
“I’m very happy, not only because of the justice brought to Senator Piedad Cordoba, but also for the release of five hostages. You can not trade or deal in human life,” the official said.
The FARC released a statement saying that “as a humanitarian gesture and in honor of the senator of peace [Cordoba],” they would release five prisoners, on condition that the government allow Cordoba to receive the hostages.
President Juan Manuel Santos has now cleared the way for the former senator to act as mediator for the release of the hostages.
Cordoba told Caracol Radio that the process could take more than a month and that it is unlikely that the three members of the security forces and the two politicians will be free this year.
The inspector general dismissed Cordoba and barred her from holding public office for 18 years because she “collaborated with and promoted illegal armed groups,” specifically the FARC.
