Colombia won't negotiate with rebels over kidnapped Frenchman
Source: Reuters
Colombia won't negotiate with rebels over kidnapped Frenchman
By Eduardo Garcia and Luis Jaime Acosta
BOGOTA | Tue May 8, 2012 3:03pm EDT
(Reuters) - Colombia on Tuesday rejected a call by FARC rebels to debate freedom of information and news media bias as a condition for the release of a French reporter they hold hostage.
Heavily armed members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia kidnapped Romeo Langlois, a reporter for France 24, during a clash with troops carrying out an anti-drug raid in Caqueta, a rebel-stronghold in the south.
The group on Monday accused the Colombian government of manipulating journalists to bend public opinion against them and said that before they consider releasing Langlois there needs to be a debate on freedom of information.
"This criminal organization carries out terrorist attacks, is involved in drug trafficking, recruits underage kids and is involved in countless crimes, among them the execution of their own members. ... They cannot impose conditions of any kind," Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon told reporters.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/08/us-colombia-farc-idUSBRE84715E20120508