COMMUNIQUE OF THE FARC ON THE RELEASE OF CLARA AND CONSUELO

Translated Version of FARC EP Communique
AP


1. Honoring the word and commitment, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC, delivered today to the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Senator Piedad Cordoba and the international community, and Clara Rojas Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo. If the child Emmanuel is not in the arms of her mother, it is because President Uribe Velez has it kidnapped in Bogota. Let them release so that we can all celebrate this event.

2. This release humanitarian and unilateral occurs despite the crossed sticks in the wheel by the President Uribe, sworn enemy of the exchange of prisoners and enemy of peace with social justice, along the lines of Washington. Above the intense military operations of the Patriot Plan, the seizure of evidence of survival, the capture of humanitarian mails that carried the kidnapping of the small Emmanuel in Bogota, and the absurd claim to exclude the facilitation The international humanitarian commission, we have taken this first step hopeful that invites believe in the possibility of peace in Colombia.

3. Efforts must be directed now to achieve clearing military Meadow and Florida as the scene of dialogue government-FARC to the agreement and the materialization of the exchange to allow the release of all prisoners held by the contending forces of the captives in the mountain and the guerrilla prisoners in the prisons of the regime, including Sonia and Simon. Our desire is unquestionable. Not forgetting that in the recent past we released unilaterally to 304 soldiers and police captured in combat, this release today we Clare and Consuelo, reaffirms our disposal.

4. In fact, we are a force to belligerent waiting to be recognized by the world's governments. This step would pave the tortuous path of the people of Colombia in search of peace. Our struggle is legitimate. It is underpinned by the universal right to attend all peoples of the world to rise up against oppression. Our father, the liberator Simon Bolivar teaches us that when the power is under the oppressor has the right to anonadarlo and that the virtuous man rises against oppressive authority and unbearable to replace it with another respected and friendly. And this is precisely the commitment of the FARC.

5. President Chavez, thank you very much. The world has no doubt that his immense heart beats sincerely for peace in Colombia and for the redemption of the people. We also thank the governments and personalities from the world that have surrounded unreservedly in this noble effort. And above all, thanks to the brave people of Venezuela for their support and brotherhood. For the families of prisoners and friends swap our humanitarian appeal to persist. We will manage the exchange.

Secretariat of the Central General Staff of the FARC
Mountains of Colombia, January 10, 2008