Colombian guerrillas turn over remains of captive policeman, in latest goodwill gesture

Colombian rebels turn over remains of captive

BOGOTA — Colombia’s largest rebel group on Thursday turned over the remains of a police officer who died while being held captive — the guerrillas’ latest gesture aimed at prodding the government into negotiating a prisoner exchange.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or the FARC, gave a humanitarian mission led by Sen. Piedad Cordoba the coordinates of the spot for the handover of the remains of police Maj. Julian Guevara.

A Super Cougar helicopter flown by a Brazilian crew ferried the mission into the Colombian jungle and returned them along with Guevara’s remains to the southeastern city of Villavicencio.

The dead man’s mother, Emperatriz Castro de Guevara, and his daughter, Ana Maria, received the coffin holding his remains at the airport. Authorities plan to use DNA testing to confirm the bones are those of Guevara.

Guevara was captured by the FARC in November 1998 and he died in January 2006 while still a prisoner.

Cordoba said the rebels handed over the remains inside the coffin after holding a ceremony.

“It was a moving act,” Cordoba said. “Military honors were bestowed (on Guevara) as a war hero.”

The International Red Cross played a key role in the mission.

Guevara’s mother and daughter were later flown to the capital of Bogota, where authorities plan to carry out the DNA testing. During brief comments to reporters, Castro de Guevara expressed relief her son’s remains were finally retrieved, although she lamented his death.

“The objective was reached today, but it wasn’t what I wanted — bringing him home alive,” she said.

The return of the remains came a day after rebels freed two captive soldiers — the first such move in more than a year.

FARC leaders hope the releases, along with Thursday’s action, will eventually lead to an agreement with the government for a swap of jailed rebels in exchange for soldiers, police and civilians being held by the FARC.

Estimates vary as to how many Colombian hostages remain in captivity.

The National Fund for Personal Freedom says there are 77 hostages in the country, including 21 police officers or soldiers and 27 civilians held by the FARC. Other hostages are held by common criminals or by a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army.

Some groups estimate there are more captives. The non-governmental group Pais Libre says there are at least 136.