Thousands of Colombians
Demonstrate To Demand
Release of FARC Hostages
Thousands of Colombians
in major cities took to
the streets on Friday,
waving banners and
chanting slogans, to
demand the release of
hostages held by
Colombia's Revolutionary
Armed Forces (FARC).
"Kidnapping is currently
Colombia's tragedy,
public opinion in
Colombia and overseas
must understand this
requires urgent
attention, that it is
impossible to leave
innocent people 10 more
years in the jungle due
to both parts'
stubbornness," said
Martha Zarate, promoter
of the protests.
This is the third
demonstration in 2008,
aiming at highlighting
the precarious situation
suffered by victims of
guerrilla groups, ultra
right wingers and the
government after decades
of internal armed
conflicts without a
political solution.
"I want to invite the
combatants that were
with me in the jungle to
demobilize. The state
receives us with
economic, psychological
and education support
and the guerrilla lacks
logic," said a
demobilized person
identifying himself as
"La Pulga."
The protesters met in
cities and
municipalities in the
departments of
Cundinamarca, Valle de
Cuaca, Antioquia and
Guavire, where hostages
are believed to be being
held by the FARC.
The hostages include
former Colombian
presidential candidate,
French-Colombian Ingrid
Betancourt.
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