The Colombian government rejected on 12 April the proposal of relatives of a group of kidnap victims. Their proposal ? To create a demilitarised zone where it would be possible to meet FARC to negotiate an exchange of prisoners.

Jorge Uribe, Minister for Defence indicated that the government would continue to agree in principle to discuss with the rebel group " but without using a demilitarised zone".

"We do not think that such a zone is necessary to start these discussions, which could be carried out in a foreign embassy, in a church, in a place where demilitarisation would not be required", stated Uribe on the "W" radio station.

This was how the government rejected the initiative of the relatives of 12 former regional deputies who begin this week their fourth year of detention by FARC.

The proposal requires the provision of a demilitarised zone in the parish of Caicedonia (south west) where negotiators from the government and from FARC could discuss the exchange of 63 hostages currently held by the rebels - including 12 politicians - for those rebels held by the government.

The proposal had the support of the "local authorities and of all the people of the parish as well as the practical support of the Defence of the People group, the International Community, the Catholic Church and the International Committee of the Red Cross who would guarantee in an effective way the safety of those involved before, during and after the talks" according to the plan. The former deputies are among 59 politicians and uniformed prisoners that FARC say they will exchange in a demilitarised zone for 500 of its members who are in prison. The government has rejected this demand.