Here is a report on a TV speech from Uribe reported on France24 on May 25.
In a potentially major breakthrough, just after Colombia confirmed the death of FARC leader Manuel Marulanda, Uribe said “the government has received calls from the FARC in which some of the leaders announced their decision to leave the FARC and hand over Ingrid Betancourt if their freedom is guaranteed.“The government’s answer is ‘yes, they are guaranteed freedom’” if they handed over hostages, Uribe said.
In a speech carried live on national television, Uribe said those leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who free the captives could be turned over to authorities from “France, so that they enjoy that freedom there.”
The president also touted the government’s offer to reward rebels up to a total of 100 million dollars when they turn themselves in alongside one or more hostages.
If the Colombian government had already announced that it was willing to pay money- substantially more than the claimed $20 million- to release the hostages, then why would it not announce such a payment if had occurred?
A potential “reliable source” for those $20 million dollar rumors is Omar Arturo Zabala, the coordinator for the FARC’s activities in Europe, and a resident of Lausanne, Switzerland.
