The Red Cross and peace advocacy group Colombians for Peace say they are ready to begin an operation to release two policemen and one soldier in hands of rebel group FARC.
MORE: FARC announces to release captive policemen, soldier
“We are waiting for a call from the government to begin the negotiations over the return home of these three hostages,” former Senator Piedad Cordoba, leader of Colombian for Peace, was quoted as saying by Caracol Radio.
According to the Red Cross, the pending release operation is “a standard procedure.”
“What needs to be done is make the arrangements with the different parties” after which the humanitarian organization can “kick-start” the operation leading to the expected release of the captive members of the security forces, Red Cross spokeswoman Maria Cristina Rivera told the radio station.
The FARC captured the policemen in the southwest of Colombia little over a week ago while they were investigating a possible case of extortion in the southwestern Valle del Cauca region.
MORE: FARC kidnapped cops in southwestern Colombia: Police
According to the rebels, the captive soldier was caught by the leftist rebels in combat in the southwestern Nariño department less than a week ago. Several soldiers were killed in that offensive.
MORE: FARC kills 4 soldiers, ‘kidnaps’ 3 civilians in southwest Colombia
The FARC banned the kidnapping of civilians and the imprisonment of members of the security forces early last year. Since late 2011, the FARC had already stopped keeping soldiers and policemen hostage for a long periods of time, but released them to the Red Cross.
FACT SHEET: Colombia kidnapping statistics
