The government denied Wednesday rumors that FARC hostage Pablo Emilio Moncayo had escaped and said it will continue negotiations for his release with the guerrilla group.
High Commissioner for Peace Frank Pearl told Caracol Radio that rumors reported Tuesday of Moncayo’s escape were untrue.
However Colombian journalist Norberto Castaño told WRadio that the Defense Ministry had told him directly that Moncayo had esacped.
Pearl maintained that negotiations for Moncayo’s release will continue. He said the government hopes “in the next three days” to coordinate negotiations with the International Red Cross (IRC) and the Catholic Church and Opposition leader as well as ‘Colombians for Peace’ leader Piedad Cordoba, who is authorized to aid in negotiations.
Monsignor Juan Vicente Cordoba of the Catholic Church’s assembly of bishops urged the importance of the IRC, the Church, the High Commissioner and Cordoba meeting as soon as possible because “if not, the process will be very slow while messages are passed back and forth,” Caracol Radio reported.
