Colombian rebel group FARC has liberated yet another hostage, just days after it freed 3 military men and one civilian in the Colombian jungle. Alan Jara, an ex-provincial governor who was abducted in 2001, was freed yesterday.

What is interesting to me is the calm with which Jara emerged from captivity after having been imprisoned for nearly 8 years, a sharp contrast with the faces of the first hostages released by FARC last year — among them Ingrid Betancourt. Jara looks great, and acted as if he’d just gone out for a walk.

Upon his return, Jara thanked Colombian senator Piedad Córdoba and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, and in a press conference had a poignant message to the Colombian government: “I believe that the FARC has made a gesture, and that gesture should be returned.” Jara is urging for dialogue to put an end to the violence.

Speaking of violence, while Jara was being released, the FARC was bombing a neighborhood in Cali, leaving 3 people dead and 30 injured. That is quite a gesture as well. Why would you release a hostage then set off a car bomb? It doesn’t make sense.

Via / Senator Piedad Córdoba’s website