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Colombia's ELN guerrilla frees 4 kidnapped geologists

Xinhua, March 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The National Liberation Army (ELN) of Colombia freed four Colombian geologists who had been kidnapped in February in the country's northeastern rural area, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed Tuesday.

According to a statement released by the Red Cross, the four professionals, workers of the Colombian Geological Service, were handed over in good shape to a representative of the Catholic Church and a Red Cross official delegation in Convencion municipality of the northern province of Norte del Santander.

"We know that the families and loved ones of these four are waiting for them, and we are happy to help them to meet soon," head of the Red Cross in Colombia Christoph Harnisch said, adding that a nurse conducted preliminary medical examinations and found them fit and healthy to be transferred in two Red Cross vehicles.

"The trust that the conflict parties have on the Red Cross and its role as a neutral intermediary is key to the success of these operations. We stand firm in the commitment to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the armed conflict in Colombia," Harnisch added.

The ELN had acknowledged in a statement the kidnapping of the four geologists in El Carmen municipality of Norte del Santander on Feb. 12, when the workers were doing mining studies.

The ombudsman of the Colombian government immediately asked the armed group to free the kidnapees, slamming the violation of their rights while warning the insurgent group not to commit such crimes again.

The Red Cross said it has facilitated the release of eight people held by armed groups so far this year. Last year, it helped release a total of 19 people. Since 1994, the Red Cross, serving as an intermediary, has freed more than 1,500 hostages in the South American country.

The Colombian government is currently holding exploratory talks with the ELN guerrillas to start negotiations in parallel with its ongoing peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels in Havana, seeking to end the country's five-decade-old internal armed conflict that has killed 220,000 people. Endi