Good idea to march for the hostages of the Farc and of all the other kidnappers in Colombia. In order to give them some relief in these horrible (for them) Christmas days. Especially in a country like Colombia, where it is so important that the family are together to celebrate Christmas. I wish the FARC (and the others) had a heart and let them go. But I am afraid that is not so. So the relief and the knowledge that they are not being forgotten is the main reason.
But I think it is even better that for example the non-governmental organization Redepaz, one of the promoters of the march, also wants to walk for the disappeared and the other victims of this never ending Colombian war.
The marches of the 4th of February, against the FARC, and the 6th of March, to defend the interests of the victims of the paramilitaries, both were organized for a special group of victims.
The same happens now with this march of the 28th of November. It was started by Ingrid Betancourt, former hostage of the FARC.
Wouldn’t it be much more effective if all the victims of this war would fight together to defend their interests and would support each other? In this so much polarized country where Uribe says that the left is with the FARC and the left says that Uribe is a paramilitary, it would be significant if at least the victims of all the groups united. Moreover they have a lot in common. Just to mention an example: the parents of the children who were abducteded to be child soldiers in one of the armed groups.
And to dream a little further: to show the rest of the country the way to a solution of this crazy conflict. I am convinced that it will never stop as long as there are so much mutual hatred and accusations between right and left. I am going to steal a slogan of Obama: Yes we can!
Author Wies Ubags is a
Dutch freelance journalist in Bogotá and works for media in
her country.