BOGOTA: Six politicians once held hostage by Colombian rebels are seeking $20 million for financial and emotional losses from the government they blame for allowing them to be snatched, officials said Tuesday.
Interior and Justice Minister German Vargas acknowledged that any Colombian has the right to file suit.
But Vargas told reporters he "does not agree with the objective of these lawsuits" and would "seek to defend the interests of all Colombians."
"What I am asking for is that the assets that are seized from the FARC and illegal groups be paid out by the state to the victims as due compensation," Valle del Cauca department lawmaker Sigifredo Lopez told RCN radio of the proposal.
Lopez, the only survivor of a group of 12 lawmakers kidnapped in 2002 and freed by rebels in 2009, is personally seeking the equivalent of more than $700,000 from the state.
Another ex-hostage, former Meta governor Alan Jara, filed suit Monday seeking the equivalent of some $4.2 million for his eight years in captivity. He claims the Colombian government is to blame through its actions or lack thereof.
Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was held eight years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), at one point sought $8 million in government compensation but dropped her case amid widespread public condemnation.
The FARC is Latin America's largest and longest-fighting insurgency. It rose up against Bogota 46 years ago and now has about 8,000 fighters, according to army figures.
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