Speaking to the Colombian Radio Network, the archbishop appealed to the guerrillas to release José Norberto Pérez immediately, saying: «I feel a tremendous sorrow, as do all Colombians and the entire world.»
The policeman was kidnapped in March 2000 during an attack in the Risaralda region.
Archbishop Jaramillo explained that this case «goes beyond all politics and ideologies and is humanly a very difficult situation for this child. I join the clamor of all Colombians so that FARC will hear the humanitarian appeal we are making to them.»
