Colombian rebels free two kidnapped Dutch reporters

BOGOTA: Rebels with Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) group have freed two Dutch journalists snatched days ago in the country’s northeast, officials said on Saturday.

Colombia’s ombudsman office, which handles human rights issues, wrote on Twitter that the rebel group freed reporter Derk Johannes Bolt, 62, and his cameraman Eugenio Ernest Marie Follender, 58, in a rural area of Norte de Santander state.

The office posted an accompanying photo purporting to show the pair, pictured with some of the rebels, along with Colombian human rights officials.

The news came after rebels issued what turned out to be an erroneous announcement earlier on Friday stating that the two men, who were kidnapped on June 19, had been released.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders early on Saturday confirmed that the journalists had been freed. "Derk Bolt and Eugenio Follender were released today in the very dangerous region of Catatumbo in northern Colombia," he said, adding that the families of both men have been informed and that the ambassador has been able to speak with them.

"They are doing pretty well considering the circumstances," Koenders said.

"We’ve been in constant contact with the Colombian authorities who have worked hard on freeing them. I have a lot of appreciation and am grateful for their contribution," Koenders added.

"This is very good news. I am enormously pleased that this kidnapping has ended so quickly." A short time later, the Dutch diplomat issued a followup statement, relating details from a brief conversation he was able to have with one of the journalists.