VILLA DEL ROSARIO, Colombia — A highly anticipated diplomatic meeting between Colombian and Venezuelan leaders was unexpectedly canceled Thursday evening, crushing the hopes of families seeking the release of detained relatives in Venezuelan prisons. The scheduled encounter between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez was called off by mutual agreement, with both governments citing “unforeseen circumstances” without elaboration.
Javier Giraldo, who had traveled to the international bridge connecting Colombia and Venezuela, expressed profound disappointment as his plan to display a sign petitioning for his father’s release evaporated. This marks the third time in 2023 that Giraldo’s hopes have been dashed regarding his 70-year-old father, Javier Giraldo García, who has spent four years detained at El Rodeo III prison near Caracas on terrorism-related charges.
Despite diplomatic progress that has seen the gradual release of Colombian prisoners in Venezuela since last year, significant numbers remain incarcerated. According to Venezuela-based prisoner rights organization Foro Penal, at least eight Colombian nationals and eleven dual Colombian-Venezuelan citizens are still detained in Venezuelan prisons.
Relatives of detainees maintained protests near the Atanasio Girardot Binational Bridge despite the canceled meeting. Ninfa Rebolledo, whose son Albeiro Guevara has been imprisoned for over six years on drug trafficking charges he maintains are false, expressed continued hope for eventual release. Both governments issued a joint statement late Thursday assuring the meeting would be rescheduled for a future date, though no specific timeline was provided.