As the three hostages detained by Farc are on their way to freedom, the Marxist Colombian guerrillas asked on Wednesday that the President of Colombia resign in order to guarantee the release of other hostages held in rebel camps. Farc are returning to their hard line and the prospect of freedom for the other hostages including Ingrid Betancourt recedes all the more.

If many people asked the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to make a gesture towards the rebels, Farc have spelled out the nature of the sign they await: his resignation. In a nut shell it is his departure in return for the freeing of all the hostages. “ The immediate resignation of Uribe and his government could guarantee the safe and sound return of the prisoners, by means of a humanitarian agreement, without any obstacle”, Raul Reyes, leader of Farc stated in a statement released on Wednesday by Annacol Agency who regularly publishes statements from the rebels.

This declaration in the form of an ultimatum is very different from that released on Tuesday evening last. Indeed, the guerrilla leadership surprised all by announcing the freeing of their hostages close to Ingrid Betancourt, among them her campaign manager, Clara Rojas, as a sign of “appreciation” to the families of the hostages and Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela, who held the role of mediator for a short time in the situation.

Uribe will not give in to Farc’s ultimatum

This promise of release was a “ sign of hope” to the family of the French- Colombian hostage – some hoped even to see her free at Christmas-, a hope “dashed” by this new demand, that will further complicate negotiations.

It is unlikely that Alvaro Uribe will yield to the Marxist rebels, with whom he always took a firm line, only agreeing to talk under international pressure. As well, the release of three hostages, whom Farc wish to hand over to Hugo Chavez, seems an affront to the Colombian President. The latter had in effect sacked the President of Venezuela from his role as mediator in the situation, accusing him of giving too high a profile to the rebels.