Colombian rebels ask Hollywood stars to intervene
Colombia's largest rebel group is calling on the actor Denzel Washington and the film-makers Oliver Stone and Michael Moore to help it reach a deal with the US government on exchanging imprisoned guerrillas for rebel-held hostages, including three US citizens
Colombia's largest rebel group is calling on the actor Denzel Washington and the film-makers Oliver Stone and Michael Moore to help it reach a deal with the US government on exchanging imprisoned guerrillas for rebel-held hostages, including three US citizens.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known as Farc, issued a letter made public yesterday asking the celebrities to advocate the swap to the American people. Raúl Reyes, a Farc spokesman, said: "To the people of the United States, we ask for your always generous solidarity to pressure President Bush and his government to support a prisoner exchange in Colombia."
The letter was also addressed to the leftist academics Noam Chomsky, James Petras and Angela Davis, as well as the Democratic party activist Jesse Jackson.
The three American hostages - Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves - were military contractors on an intelligence-collecting mission when their aircraft went down in 2003 in southern Colombia and they were quickly captured.
In the letter, Mr Reyes said: "Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves are alive in our custody, treated with respect and dignity in the jungle. They are the only North American prisoners alive in the world."
Farc, which is listed by the US government as a foreign terrorist organisation, is holding some 60 prominent hostages, including a former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, politicians and military officers. It says it will only release them in exchange for nearly 600 jailed rebels.
President Alvaro Uribe recently broke off talks after blaming the rebels for a car bomb in a military base that injured more than 20, insisting that the hostages would be freed by military raids. The families of the kidnapped are united in opposing such rescues, fearing their relatives would be killed in the crossfire. Mr Uribe later relented and said he would be open to talks if the rebels gave a sign of good faith.
The guerrillas said the army offensive was jeopardising the lives of the hostages and promised the group would soon send evidence that they were alive. Since the kidnappings nearly four years ago, the families have received one "proof of life".
Farc's letter comes as one of the most famous rebels stands trial in Washington DC for their kidnapping. Ricardo Palmera, better known by his nom de guerre Simón Trinidad, was captured in Ecuador in 2004 and extradited to the US. Another guerrilla, known as Sonia, is preparing to stand trial in Washington on drug-trafficking charges. Farc insists that any exchange must include Trinidad and Sonia.
Since 2000, the US government has provided $4bn (£2.1bn) in mostly military aid to Colombia to fight the decades-old insurgency and the huge drugs trade.
Colombia's largest rebel group is calling on the actor Denzel Washington and the film-makers Oliver Stone and Michael Moore to help it reach a deal with the US government on exchanging imprisoned guerrillas for rebel-held hostages, including three US citizens.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known as Farc, issued a letter made public yesterday asking the celebrities to advocate the swap to the American people. Raúl Reyes, a Farc spokesman, said: "To the people of the United States, we ask for your always generous solidarity to pressure President Bush and his government to support a prisoner exchange in Colombia."
The letter was also addressed to the leftist academics Noam Chomsky, James Petras and Angela Davis, as well as the Democratic party activist Jesse Jackson.
The three American hostages - Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves - were military contractors on an intelligence-collecting mission when their aircraft went down in 2003 in southern Colombia and they were quickly captured.
In the letter, Mr Reyes said: "Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves are alive in our custody, treated with respect and dignity in the jungle. They are the only North American prisoners alive in the world."
Farc, which is listed by the US government as a foreign terrorist organisation, is holding some 60 prominent hostages, including a former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, politicians and military officers. It says it will only release them in exchange for nearly 600 jailed rebels.
President Alvaro Uribe recently broke off talks after blaming the rebels for a car bomb in a military base that injured more than 20, insisting that the hostages would be freed by military raids. The families of the kidnapped are united in opposing such rescues, fearing their relatives would be killed in the crossfire. Mr Uribe later relented and said he would be open to talks if the rebels gave a sign of good faith.
The guerrillas said the army offensive was jeopardising the lives of the hostages and promised the group would soon send evidence that they were alive. Since the kidnappings nearly four years ago, the families have received one "proof of life".
Farc's letter comes as one of the most famous rebels stands trial in Washington DC for their kidnapping. Ricardo Palmera, better known by his nom de guerre Simón Trinidad, was captured in Ecuador in 2004 and extradited to the US. Another guerrilla, known as Sonia, is preparing to stand trial in Washington on drug-trafficking charges. Farc insists that any exchange must include Trinidad and Sonia.
Since 2000, the US government has provided $4bn (£2.1bn) in mostly military aid to Colombia to fight the decades-old insurgency and the huge drugs trade.
posted by Marko at 11/10/2006 07:26:00 AM
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