Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (R) greeting police seargent Luis Alberto Erazo at a military hospital in Bogota.
Colombia vowed to keep searching for captives of FARC guerrillas despite cries from families to prevent loved ones from facing the same fate as four hostages killed by rebels during a military operation.
After a decade in captivity, three policemen and one soldier were shot dead by FARC insurgents at the weekend after a firefight. It was the most violent act by the group since troops killed its leader Alfonso Cano earlier this month.
With police and soldiers guarding, President Juan Manuel Santos, the military high command and ministers joined families in Bogota’s main cathedral to mourn the four.
Three were shot in the head, the fourth in his back. Human rights group called the killings a war crime.
Asked if Colombia would continue the hunt for hostages, Defense Minster Juan Carlos Pinzon said: «It’s a duty of the security forces to always be ready to protect the life, rights and liberty of citizens so it will always be necessary to act with that objective.»
At least 11 police and soldiers are still being held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Families have traditionally opposed military operations to free captives given the risks facing hostages during rescue attempts.
In a letter supposedly sent before the military operation over the weekend, the FARC’s seven-member ruling secretariat said it had taken the decision to free six hostages as a «humanitarian act,» though it did not specify which captives.
«This was the determination of commander Alfonso Cano days before being killed by the bloodthirsty and warmongering regime of Juan Manuel Santos,» the FARC said.
The letter – addressed to activists and former Senator Piedad Cordoba – was published on Tuesday on the Anncol website that routinely carries FARC statements. Cordoba said the note was sent before the military strike.
buenosairesherald.com