Colombians Take to the Streets to Demand Release of Hostages
Betancourt leads simultaneous event in Paris, reading out a list of names of 27 hostages still held
Colombians poured on to streets across the country yesterday in huge rallies to send their strongest message yet to leftwing rebels to release all of their remaining hostages held in jungle camps.
Wearing white T-shirts with slogans such as "Free them now" or the name of a hostage, an estimated 1 million marchers in Bogotá walked through main avenues filling plazas and public parks.
The marches were called following the rescue on July 2 of 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), including French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three American defence contractors and 11 members of Colombia's security forces.
Betancourt lead a simultaneous event in Paris where she read out a list of names of 27 hostages still held by the Farc as bargaining chips for negotiations with the government and called for their release.
"We want freedom for everyone," said Betancourt, speaking in Spanish amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad" (Freedom).
Similar events were planned for other cities across the United States, Latin America and Europe. In Leticia, the capital of Colombia's Amazon province, pop stars Shakira and Carlos Vives gave a free concert, sharing a stage with President Álvaro Uribe.
The marches coincided with Colombian independence day, which is usually marked by solemn military parades.
"We have to support those who are still there," said Alejandro Martínez, who marched through Bogotá with his wife and eight-year-old son. "We have to let them know we will not forget them."
The Farc continues to hold an estimated 700 hostages. Other rebel groups, paramilitary militias and criminals are holding more than 2,000 others, according to the Fundación Pais Libre, which tracks kidnappings.
The number of kidnappings has dropped from a decade ago when Colombia was considered the kidnapping capital of the world but abductions are frequent. On Friday, the Farc kidnapped 10 people from a boat on the Atrato river in the Pacific coast province of Chocó.
Wearing white T-shirts with slogans such as "Free them now" or the name of a hostage, an estimated 1 million marchers in Bogotá walked through main avenues filling plazas and public parks.
The marches were called following the rescue on July 2 of 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), including French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three American defence contractors and 11 members of Colombia's security forces.
Betancourt lead a simultaneous event in Paris where she read out a list of names of 27 hostages still held by the Farc as bargaining chips for negotiations with the government and called for their release.
"We want freedom for everyone," said Betancourt, speaking in Spanish amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad" (Freedom).
Similar events were planned for other cities across the United States, Latin America and Europe. In Leticia, the capital of Colombia's Amazon province, pop stars Shakira and Carlos Vives gave a free concert, sharing a stage with President Álvaro Uribe.
The marches coincided with Colombian independence day, which is usually marked by solemn military parades.
"We have to support those who are still there," said Alejandro Martínez, who marched through Bogotá with his wife and eight-year-old son. "We have to let them know we will not forget them."
The Farc continues to hold an estimated 700 hostages. Other rebel groups, paramilitary militias and criminals are holding more than 2,000 others, according to the Fundación Pais Libre, which tracks kidnappings.
The number of kidnappings has dropped from a decade ago when Colombia was considered the kidnapping capital of the world but abductions are frequent. On Friday, the Farc kidnapped 10 people from a boat on the Atrato river in the Pacific coast province of Chocó.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Colombian Rebels Say They Will Release Three Hostages
- Colombia Apologises Over Use of Red Cross Symbol in Betancourt Rescue
- Colombia Waits to See How Betancourt May Change the Political Landscape
- Colombia: The Acclaim, and the Backlash
- Colombia Hostage Rescue: The Audacious Plot That Freed World's Most Famous Captive
- Colombia: Hostages Reveal Details of 'sadism' and Executions
- Betancourt Describes Sadistic Treatment at Hands of Captors
- Colombia Hostage Rescue: 'like a Movie' - the Double Cross That Freed Betancourt
- Colombian Hostage Ingrid Betancourt is Reunited With Her Family
- Colombia's Joan of Arc
- Colombian Forces Trick Farc Rebels Into Freeing Hostage Betancourt
- Colombia's Coca Crop Booms Despite Us-backed Crackdown
- Colombia: Pinned Down in Their Jungle Lairs, Wounded Farc Face Long War's End
- Leader of Colombia's Biggest Rebel Group Has Died, Guerrillas Confirm
- Blow to Farc As Top Female Commander Surrenders
- UK Palm Oil Consumption Fuels Colombia Violence, Says Report
- Interesting Facts About Colombia
- Columbia: Drug Smugglers Up the Ante
- Freed US Hostage Speaks Out Against Colombians
- Hostages Freed by Daring Rescue Mission in Colombia
- Colombian Shoppers Lament Shutdown of Crooked Shopping Club
- Culture of Colombia
- Favorite Foods of Columbia