The Colombian government and hostage mediators have approved protocols for the planned release of FARC captives, the Defense Ministry told Colombia Reports Thursday.
The protocols were endorsed by the International Red Cross, hostage mediators Colombians for Peace, and the governments of Brazil and Colombia.
Colombian Vice Minister Jorge Enrique Bedoya said, “We now have the protocols defined and are waiting for [the FARC] to liberate the hostages.”
Colombia’s largest guerrilla group announced last month its intention to release all ten captive members of the Colombian armed forces and to abandon kidnapping civilians for extortion purposes.
With approval of the recovery protocols and the loan of helicopters from Brazil all that remains is for the FARC to announce a time and place for the release.
Some of the hostages have been held for as long as 13 years.
