The left-wing rebel group had claimed to be holding hostage a French reporter, Roméo Langlois, who disappeared during a clash between the Colombian Army and FARC rebels on Saturday.
A female FARC member came forward to tell Colombian press that they are holding Langlois, who was injured during the attack, but is now recovering. In a telephone call to local journalists, the woman stated that when Langlois was captured, he was wearing a military uniform and therefore is a “prisoner of war.”
Langlois was in Caquetá, Southern Colombia, covering a military counternarcotic campaign, when the Colombian Army group was attacked and he had to give himself up to the FARC. Four others died in the attack.
The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) today issued a statement indicating that this act is against International Humanitarian Law, and against “freedom of expression.”
The IACHR’s declaration states that, “the murder, kidnapping, intimidation, threat to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression. It is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish the perpetrators and ensure that victims receive due compensation.”
European officials also criticised the kidnapping, pointing out that the FARC has issued a statement in February declaring that the group was to cease all similar guerrilla actions.
“The High Representative (EU) calls for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Langlois,” said a spokesperson for the European Union representative for foreign affairs, today. “Just two weeks ago, the FARC announced that they would renounce kidnapping of hostages as a means of getting income or political influence… but [Langlois] is a citizen,” and this is now a test of the groups “sincerity.”
