Yesterday, thousands of Colombians across this country and the globe took to the streets to protest the ongoing kidnapping, violence and other atrocities being committed by the armed elements of within the country. Clad in white t-shirts declaring 'Colombia Soy Yo' (I am Colombia), protesters most notably directed their ire towards Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) which holds an estimated 750 individuals in captivity.However, its important to note that protesters also carried signs denouncing other guerrilla groups such as the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), paramilitary groups such as the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), and human rights abuses carried out by the National Army - reflecting the complex nature of the internal conflict.
In Bogotá, Carrera 7 was shut down for much of the afternoon as protesters march along its length. Many held photographs of family members who have been kidnapped or otherwise victimized in Colombia's decades-old internal conflict. This is the third march of this kind in 2008.
A rally in Madrid was led by former FARC captive and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was freed in a daring resuce operation several months ago. Word also came this morning that Betancourt will return to Colombia tonight for the first time since she was freed from capitivity.
Gringo media coverage:
BBC News
Associated Press
Ed. Note: This is the first mention I've made on Colombia's internal conflict. In the near future I will put together a post with a brief history and current status of the conflict.
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