02:22Colombia: Sixteen FARC members released from jail
Former members of the FARC guerrillas spoke to press in Bogota, Thursday, after being released by the Colombian government the day before.
Sandra Patricia Isaza and Carlos Antonio Ochoa, former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombian People's Army (FARC-EP), addressed the media at the Instituto Leon Tolstoi.
During the press conference, Carlos Antonio Ochoa labelled the reprieve as a "gesture of good will" which is important, he said, as "it helps the process and gives us the assurance that it is possible to make far-reaching steps to start building a new Colombia."
As for Sandra Patricia Isaza, she started saying that is "necessary for the country to know the difficult situation that political prisoners are facing in Colombia." She went on saying that they "recognize and support the work of the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP for the valuable work done in seeking to end the armed conflict, which will allow a stable and lasting peace."
The Colombian government confirmed the release of 16 of the 30 FARC guerrillas reprieved on November 22. They had all been convicted of rebellion. The government authorized four of the former prisoners to travel to Cuba, where the peace dialogue between the Government and the militants is taking place, to receive information about the content of the accords.
02:22Former members of the FARC guerrillas spoke to press in Bogota, Thursday, after being released by the Colombian government the day before.
Sandra Patricia Isaza and Carlos Antonio Ochoa, former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombian People's Army (FARC-EP), addressed the media at the Instituto Leon Tolstoi.
During the press conference, Carlos Antonio Ochoa labelled the reprieve as a "gesture of good will" which is important, he said, as "it helps the process and gives us the assurance that it is possible to make far-reaching steps to start building a new Colombia."
As for Sandra Patricia Isaza, she started saying that is "necessary for the country to know the difficult situation that political prisoners are facing in Colombia." She went on saying that they "recognize and support the work of the delegations of the government and the FARC-EP for the valuable work done in seeking to end the armed conflict, which will allow a stable and lasting peace."
The Colombian government confirmed the release of 16 of the 30 FARC guerrillas reprieved on November 22. They had all been convicted of rebellion. The government authorized four of the former prisoners to travel to Cuba, where the peace dialogue between the Government and the militants is taking place, to receive information about the content of the accords.