Cardinal Castrillon confirms reports of telephone conversation with FARC leader

Bogotá, Colombia, Aug 14, 2009 / 08:36 am

The president emeritus of the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, confirmed to reporters this week that he has spoken on the phone with the FARC leader Guillermo Leon Sanchez, know as “Alfonso Cano.”
 
“Yes, I have spoken on the phone with ‘Alfonso Cano’ and with another leader whose name I can’t remember right now,” the cardinal said after meeting with Colombian president Alvaro Uribe.
 
During their conversation, the FARC leaders said they plan to present the government with a peace proposal.
 
Last April, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said the only people authorized to contact the FARC and establish agreements about the release of prisoners were members of the Church and the International Red Cross. However, two months later he authorized opposition lawmaker Piedad Cordoba to make contact with the rebel group.