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When I first read on the papers about Gustavo Moncayo I immediately remembered the movie “Forest Gump”: A touching story of a man that runs and runs and runs.
On June 17 Gustavo left his home town Sandoná in Nariño (State in the Colombian south-west) heading to the 1000 km distant Bogota, where he arrived 46 days later.
His driving force for this adventurous march was his son, who had been kidnapped by the FARC-guerrilla almost ten years ago and been held hostage ever since. In December 1997 a radio station of the Colombian army in Nariño was attacked by the FARC – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Ten soldiers died, four were injured and 18 young militaries were taken as hostages. Amongst them was Pablo Moncayo. In 2001 sixteen hostages from this group were released, consequence of an agreement between the State and the FARC, in exchange for fourteen ill guerrilla fighters. Pablo was not part of the released soldiers. He has now become the hostage who has been kept imprisoned the longest by the FARC.
“We are tired from all these swindling – almost ten years have gone by to win back freedom for the hostages!” says Pablo’s father.
He started his journey alone with his youngest daughter Yuri but after a few days more and more people joint the wanderers: former hostages, family members of kidnapped persons and people who wanted to show Gustavo their solidarity escorted him. Entire towns lined up on the streets when he passed by, many offered him and his escorts meals and accommodation, others were just aiming for a snapshot with Gustavo.
The “caminante por la paz” – walker for freedom – has become the symbol for a humanitarian way out of the hostage conflict and the source of hope for many Colombians. His objective is to win the governments and the FARCs attention to the urgency of an exchange of prisoners. He demands the hostages to be released through a humanitarian solution, meaning a peaceful and negotiated way instead of a military release operation. The last one is considered to be life threatening to the hostages for many reasons.
After his arrival in Bogota he has received enormous support, which generates pressure on the political leaders – but not on the FARC. This is why his way still must go on to places where the FARC is forced to listen to him. Gustavo planned originally to stay at the Plaza Bolivar until his son had been released. However by now it has become obvious that from here he only speaks to one party.
The FARC reacts rather to international pressure, specially that one coming from Europe. Over the years their effective PR efforts in Europe managed to create the image, the FARC was the rightful representative of the regular Colombian, the majority in the country.
According to what is planned Gustavo will march in September from Brussels to Paris. His journey aims to make Europeans aware, that Colombians are peace minded people and their own spokespersons when it comes to the liberation of the hostages. The FARC must deal with the proposals and tell the public the date by when the hostages will be released.
For more information read:
– Signatures in favour of a humanitarian release
Letzte Kommentare
Marion Geissbühler am 19. Dezember 2011: Hallo Yolanda Zufällig bin ich auf dein Schreiben gestossen. Vermietest du die Wohnung immer noch? Wenn ja, besteht die Möglichkeit sie vom 24.Dezember 2011 bis 2. Januar 2012 zu mieten oder nur über das...
danke bianca
irina am 5. Dezember 2011: Hi Nora, danke für den Bericht!!! Ich wollt fragen, ob man den Rest des Gepäcks, den man für die Wanderung nicht benötigt, am Startpunkt irgendwo unterstellen kann? Danke! VG Irina
Felix W. am 26. November 2011: Hi, bin in Kolumbien, aber mir wird verboten Leticia zu bereisen, da es gefährlich sein soll, was mir aber einige Kolumbianer nicht bestätigen, doch meine Organisation in DE möchte es nicht. Was gibts dazu zu sagen?...
Stefan H. am 13. November 2011: Hallo, erstmal vorweg ich war auch noch nie in Kolumbien. Ich kenne aber hier in D einige Kolumbianer. Und ich muss sagen dass sind sehr freundliche,liebevolle und offene Menschen die sich über jede Kleinigkeiten...
Mary am 30. Oktober 2011: Hallo, ich selbst habe auch einen Blog über Kolumbien. Wenn ihr dort etwas reinschreiben wollt, immer zu! Viele Grüße Mary
pedro am 16. September 2011: Hallo, also ich will hier meine ganz subjective Erahrung beisteuern: Vor 3 Monaten habe ich meine novia columbiana uebers Internet kennengelernt, vor 6 Wochen habe ich sie besucht und seitdem ist es aus mit mir –...
Kim am 17. August 2011: Ich persönlich habe die Erfahrung gemacht, dass Menschen aus ärmeren Ländern, also entweder aus Entwicklungs- oder Schwellenländern, sich schneller über etwas freuen. Oft ist auch der Zusammenhalt innerhalb der Familie...
bianca am 9. August 2011: hallo, wo genau wurde denn dieses foto geschossen? ich werde nächsten frühling nach kolumbien fliegen und das foto sieht auf jeden fall so aus, als würde sich ein abstecher dorthin lohnen