The ELN releases Sergeant Karina Ramírez and her two children

The National Liberation Army (ELN) released Sergeant Karina Ramírez and her 6 and 8-year-old children on Friday, according to confirmed the president Gustavo Petroon his Twitter account.

The petty officer and the children were handed over to a commission from the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office and the Catholic Church.

The Ministry of Defense also confirmed the news and condemned the kidnapping: “our commitment is unwavering in the protection of Colombians and the search for Total Peace.”

Subsequently, the Ombudsman’s Office echoed that Ramírez and his family, along with his dog, were released.

The Military Forces also celebrated the fact, through a message on their social networks: “Welcome to freedom our Second Sergeant Ghislaine Karina Ramírez and her children. We recognize the mediation to achieve their release by the Catholic Church and @DefensoriaCol.”

“Kidnapping is a flagrant violation of Human Rights that must disappear. We reject this fact, we will accompany the family of our military from @COL_EJERCITO,” they added.

The Sargent was kidnapped on July 3 at night, while he was traveling from the municipality of Fortul to Arauca, after being ordered a transfer, when members of the Domingo Laín Sáenz Front of the ELN would have intercepted the vehicle and kidnapped the occupants, reported the Eighth Division of the Army.

The events occurred before the beginning of the ceasefire with the governmentannounced by the parties, in the midst of peace negotiations.

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