Bogota authorities forbade the father of a FARC hostage to crucify
himself Friday on Bogota’s central Plaza de Bolivar to demand a prompt
liberation of his son.
Gustavo Moncayo, father of soldier Pablo Emilio, has been walking towards the capital carrying a cross for four days. Moncayo wants to crucify himself on the central square to demand of the government it finds a way out of the deadlocked release of his son.
The FARC promised to release Pablo Emilio Moncayo more than four months ago already, but because of a lack of willingness to make concessions, the hostage is still held in the jungle.
According to Bogota Government Secretary Clara Lopez, Moncayo is not allowed to crucify himself on the Plaza de Bolivar, because the square was promised to the manifestation of a a non-profit organization that raises funds in behalf of the police officers’ widows and orphans. Organizers of a worldwide march against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were denied the same square for the same reason Thursday.
Lopez stressed that Moncayo had been notified of this several times.
Moncayo’s son was kidnapped by FARC rebels more than twelve years ago.