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 No.295, Geneva, 28 February 2008IPU Logo-bottom

IPU WELCOMES RELEASE OF FOUR COLOMBIAN MPs

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) welcomes the release of four former members of the Colombian National Congress, Ms. Gloria Polanco de Lozada, Mr. Luis Eladio Pérez, Mr. Jorge Gechem and Mr. Orlando Beltran, kidnapped six years ago by the FARC guerrilla group and held hostage ever since.

The IPU recalls that, among the hostages still in the hands of the FARC, is another member of the Colombian Parliament, Mr. Oscar Lizcano, who was kidnapped in August 2000, as well as former senator and presidential candidate, Ms. Ingrid Betancourt.

The IPU has consistently stated that taking as hostages persons who play no active part in hostilities is explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law and that the FARC is therefore under obligation to release the hostages they still hold immediately and unconditionally.

Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer
5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva
Phone: +41 22 919 41 16
Fax: +41 22 919 41 60
E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org

Ms. Ingeborg Schwarz, Manager, IPU Human Rights Programme
Phone : + 41 22 919 41 42
E-mail: is@mail.ipu.org

Mr. Rogier Huizenga, Programme Officer
Phone : + 41 22 919 41 24
E-mail: rh@mail.ipu.org