A Red Cross-led mission flew into Colombia's southern jungles today to pick up a hostage soldier who Farc guerrillas planned to release in the first of two handovers.
The Farc or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has said it would release one of the 24 police and soldiers it holds to leftist Senator Piedad Cordoba and the Red Cross team today and a second hostage on Tuesday.
The army has temporarily halted operations in the area where the first handover will take place. A loaned Brazilian army helicopter with the Red Cross ensignia ferried the mission to a secret location in the remote jungle.
"Since six in the afternoon yesterday, we have suspended all ground, river and air operations in the area," said peace commissioner Frank Pearl. "Up until now there have been no problems."
Guerrillas today will free Josue Daniel Calvo, kidnapped a year ago after he was wounded in combat. On Tuesday, they will release Pablo Emilio Moncayo, who was captured more than 12 years ago when rebels overran his base.
One of the longest-held Farc hostages, Mr Moncayo has become a symbol of those left behind in the jungles in the fight against Latin America's longest-running insurgency. He has only been seen occasionally in rebel videos over the years.
The Farc has released captives in the past. But direct talks to free all hostages and end the war have never been held with president Alvaro Uribe, whose US-backed security drive has battered rebels to their weakest position in decades.
Once a powerful army fighting for a socialist state, the Farc relies now on ambushes and bombs to harass troops. With very little popular support, rebels finance their operations with cocaine trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.
Reuters