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PARIS – Colombia's FARC rebels are asking France's new Socialist presidentfor help in facilitating talks with their country's government,according to a French journalist freed from captivity in theColombian jungles. Romeo Langlois arrived in Paris on Friday to be reunited with hisfamily and will meet with French President Francois Hollande. The35-year-old had been held by leftist rebels for a month and wasreleased Wednesday. Langlois, an independent journalist on assignment for France 24television, said the FARC used his kidnapping to show the worldthat they are still active despite Colombian military efforts towipe them out. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC by theirSpanish acronym, says it is a peasant-based army that is fightingfor a more equal distribution of wealth, particularly of Colombia'sland, which is concentrated in the hands of very few. Two major peace negotiations between the government and FARC havefailed over the past three decades. The rebels gave him a letter to pass on to Hollande, and itincludes a request "to ask France to continue to play its role as afriend of Colombia to help in trying to negotiate," Langlois toldreporters in Paris. "The FARC, who I think really want a negotiated solution, areobliged to kidnap people to attract attention. Not only tothemselves, but ... as a reminder that there is an extremelyserious conflict," Langlois said. "They are hoping that a lot of European countries, of courseincluding France, will help the parties to lower the tensions," hesaid. "There is a lot of hate." He later told reporters that the Colombian government had alsoasked him to pass on a request to the French government to help"reduce tensions." Hollande, who met with Langlois on Friday, said the governmentwould not get involved. "We hope that there is a political process, and that is all thereis to say," he said after the meeting. Langlois described his kidnapping as a "tough blow for theColombian government" and those who say the rebels have beendefanged and security restored. Both he and Hollande stressed thatno ransom was paid nor any concession made to the rebels for hisrelease. He said he was treated well by his kidnappers, but firmly deniedbeing a rebel spokesman. He criticized the FARC for using hiscapture for propaganda purposes. The journalist was accompanying Colombian soldiers on a cocaine-labdestruction mission on April 28 when rebels attacked. Four securityforce members were killed and Langlois was wounded in the arm. Hefled into rebel hands. The rebels criticized him in one communique as lending himself togovernment propaganda by accompanying the military. Langlois, who has spent years covering Colombia and its conflicts,said he will go back to work there despite the kidnapping. I am an expert from titaniumsheetplate.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Titanium Anode Basket , Titanium Fastener, Titanium Rod,and more.
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