Communique issued by the Central High Command of FARC on the release of four Law Makers

27 February 2008

Release of Law Makers

Communiqué

1. The release of former congress members Luis Eladio Pérez, Gloria Polanco, Orlando Beltrán and Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, is the fruit of President Hugo Chavez's and Senator Piedad Cordoba's humanitarian persistence and sincere concern for peace in Colombia.


2. This release is the clearest statement that humanity can do more than intransigency. Now, the
demilitarization of Pradera and Florida for 45 days ought to be the next step; to reach an agreement with the government, with guerrilla presence and the international community as guarantors, for the release of the guerrillas and of the prisoners of war held by the FARC.

3. The FARC's release of these four congress members takes place in the middle of a gigantic military operation - disregarding the lives of the prisoners - that attempts their military rescue by blood and bullets. Under these circumstances, a fatal end would be the responsibility of the Colombian Government.

4. Our will to reach an agreement for the exchange with the government is supported by our unilateral release of 304 army and police officers captured in combat, of Clara Rojas and Consuelo de Perdomo, of the four congress members, and of the Putumayo policemen,
among others. In contrast, the Colombian Government -except for the release of Rodrigo Granda - has done nothing but manipulate the public's opinion with the release of alleged guerrillas led by the same two or three intelligence agents they always turn to as
shameless wildcards, as circumstances warrant.

5. We want to thank President Hugo Chavez for the efforts for the exchange of prisoners of war and peace in Colombia. His efforts, and those of Senator Piedad Cordoba, should be backed by the families of the prisoners of war and by everyone. Their courageous position to consider the FARC a Belligerent Force, is on the right path, because it removes preconditions and stimulates the search for a political solution to the long social and armed conflict Colombia is living.
To that immense majority that marched, not against the FARC, but against violence, for the humanitarian exchange and peace, our recognition and call to continue the efforts for the realization of such a just cause

Secretariat, Central High Command of the FARC

Mountains of Colombia, 27 Febrauary 2008