KIDNAPPINGS IN COLOMBIA

Motion Text

That this House deplores the frequency in Colombia of kidnappings and hostage-taking for either financial or political advantage; notes that there are still significant numbers of such hostages held in captivity; draws attention to the situation of the victims of the Avianca hijacking of 12th April 1999 when 42 civilians were captured on an internal flight; recognises that all but five of these have now been released; applauds the efforts of the Rencuentro group of families of these captives to secure the release of their loved-ones; calls on all parties to the conflict and their international interlocutors to make the early release of all hostages a high priority in the peace process; and exhorts the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional to release all in their control as a significant gesture towards peace.