Human Rights Watch today called for the immediate release of all civilian hostages in Colombia. It is estimated that the FARC is holding hundreds of civilians hostage, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. All civilians taken by guerrillas and paramilitaries and held for ransom or political concessions are considered hostages by Human Rights Watch. That is simply unacceptable.
International law forbids the targeting of civilians in wartime.
According to Human Rights Watch's information, the FARC seized Grosch-Garces at his residence at La Bocana, on Buevaventura's harbor, on May 28, 1999. Subsequently, the family received several ransom calls from a man identifying himself as a representative of the FARC's 30th Front. The kidnappers also forwarded letters to the family reputedly from Mr. Grosch-Garces, pleading for money. In one of the last calls, the kidnappers told the family that Grosch-Garces was seriously ill. After his release, this hostage told the family that he had seen Mr. Grosch-Garces briefly in October 1999, and reported that he appeared near death.