Now that the Colombian army has rescued a group of hostages, and that the Farc feel they really have to do something about putting an end to decades of non-sense, they decide they won’t negotiate with the current government. They say, and I quote, that only a new government, which is truly democratic, born from a national agreement, could retake the path of the search for a political solution.

What a bunch of crap! That is what they have been saying for the past 40 years. And they continue with their rampage of violence and abuse toward Colombians. And then they add they want to be in a meeting with Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega? Give me a break!

I think we’ve had enough with the circus that Chávez and Correa have put up. One of them has come to his senses (¡Buena esa, Hugo!), and the other one is still throwing tantrums. And now the Farc want to bring another clown in? I understand they do not recognize the Colombian government, but this is not about politics anymore. They are pretty much weakened and without ideals. This is about the 42 millions of people who are claiming for peace.

I think a group that has done nothing but torture my people has no saying in how negotiations will be. They need to put an end to it NOW.

El Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos

Declara:

1. Su felicitación al pueblo y al Gobierno de Colombia, por la exitosa operación de rescate que, respetando plenamente los derechos humanos, condujo a la libertad de 12 ciudadanos colombianos y 3 ciudadanos de Estados Unidos de América que se encontraban secuestrados por las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), la mayoría de ellos por más de 10 años.

2. Que el secuestro es un crimen atroz y urge a las FARC y a todos los grupos al margen de la ley en Colombia a la liberación inmediata y sin condiciones, sanos y salvos, de todas las personas que mantienen secuestradas, exhortando a las FARC a renunciar a la violencia y a establecer un diálogo con las autoridades colombianas.

3. Su respaldo a los esfuerzos del Estado colombiano para el logro definitivo de la paz y la seguridad de ese país, esfuerzos que deberán realizarse con pleno respeto de los derechos humanos, el Derecho Internacional Humanitario y el Derecho Internacional”

Aggression of Colombia my ass! Our army didn’t attack Ecuador. They attacked a terrorist camp less than 2 miles from the border and killed Raul Reyes, one of their leaders. These monsters have been kidnapping, killing and terrorizing our country for decades. And now Hugo Chávez and Rafael Correa take it as a personal insult. Of course, they are in cahoots with the rebels, and the Colombian army took down a key person so they are hurt. This is unbelievable.

Documents from military intelligence show how these two presidents have been in contact with the terrorist group, not only to try to mediate in the hostages crisis, but to take over our government and impose their communist ideas in the region. That is the scariest thing I’ve heard lately. And then they get together at Miraflores in Caracas to discuss, point by point, how to alienate Colombia, overthrow our president and give control to the Marxist guerrillas? Scary, indeed.

I have been wanting to post about this thinking that many people won’t be familiar with it, but I had to say something. Hugo Chávez’s manoeuvre of sending troops to the border to protest about stuff that doesn’t concern him is totally ridiculous. And going from country to country trying to make Alvaro Uribe appear like that bad wolf is very petty. But that’s not the issue… They are trying to make Colombia be the bad kid in the sandbox, but it is very clear they are harbouring and helping terrorists. Nobody can allow this.

I just hope diplomacy will prevail, and that the people of Ecuador and Venezuela wake up and realize what kind of leaders they have. As for Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega, he can go eat fried monkeys.

For info search Yahoo! News.

Technorati Tags: Colombia, Ecuador, Hugo Chávez, Rafael Correa, Alvaro Uribe, Venezuela

While I’m a little bit worried about the recent political crisis between Colombia and Venezuela, following the death of Raúl Reyes (one key member of FARC), I’m here laughing, trying to understand what goes on in Hugo Chávez’s head. To ask for a minute of silence to remember a terrorist is not only ridiculous, it is an insult to Colombians!

Chávez should keep to himself right now. If anything, it is up to Ecuador’s president to decide if their sovereignty was violated when the Colombian army attacked a rebel camp, killing Mr. Reyes. The camp happened to be in Ecuador, because that is what they do… They hide next door. This whole sovereignty issue is crap, in my opinion, for no country should become a shelter for terrorists. That is what FARC are.

Hugo Chávez claims he wants to give freedom to Colombians. He can go free his mother for all we care. He’s disrespectful, belligerent, and a ridiculous clown.

Technorati Tags: Colombia, Venezuela, Raúl Reyes, FARC, Hugo Chávez

I took the liberty (and I hope I won’t get in trouble) to translate these 8 lessons from the march against FARC, that I found in El Tiempo this morning.

1. The awakening of the civilian population. Society woke up to say to FARC that they are criminals and they have no political project.

2. Youth as engines for change. Young people using the Internet and the media to call on others to demonstrate their wish for change.

3. New presentation. The march went beyond political parties and institutions.

4. Civility and tolerance. Protesting against any form of violence, with respect and pluralism.

5. Rejection against FARC. It is clear for the international community that they cannot open their doors to FARC after Colombian society’s strong NO.

6. The end of indifference. It is clear that Colombian society won’t tolerate kidnappings as a political tool anymore.

7. New political instruments. Like Facebook to gather people.

8. A new defeat for FARC. A weakening due to the new Democratic Security, making this group face isolation in the international community.

Technorati Tags: march against FARC, FARC, Youth, Colombian society, Facebook

See more photos in my Flickr page. More to come!

Check our new Flickr Group, NO MORE FARC, and add your photos.

The march was WAY bigger than expected, and I am very, very happy about it.

¿Servirá la marcha? En términos prácticos, tal vez no. Pero en términos de Nación, la historia dirá que un día tuvimos la valentía de señalar con nuestro dedo a aquellos que insistieron en usar la violencia como supuesta forma legítima de traer la justicia.
(Mheo. Caricaturista y periodista.)

Check my super low-tech video. I finally learnt how to YouTube my stuff.

News has it that today’s March against FARC is polarizing the country. I believe it isn’t so. For the first time in my life I see millions of Colombians agreeing on something, and tired enough of the carnage to go out on the streets and let their voices be heard. I am proud of my people! All around the globe, even in the most unsuspected countries, Colombians are gathering with a voice, and a dream: Peace. We are tired, NO MORE FARC!

A friend of my husband (who is Colombian, too) has been posting notes on Facebook about his thoughts on the march, and I’ve been following very carefully for he’s a very decent and eloquent man. He is not totally against it, but he advises people to take it with a grain of salt. Why? Because there are some political organizations using this manifestation to go with their own agenda, and that is pathetic. Also because of the fear that FARC will retaliate. In fact, the families of the people who are still being held hostages will not go out. They are afraid these criminals will do something. I understand their fear, however… That deserves a new paragraph.

The FARC’s retaliating against the people’s protest would be the biggest oxymoron of their lives. They call themselves “The People’s Army,” and they claim they fight for the rights of the civilians who are under the rule of a corrupt government. Now with Hugo Chávez looking to have them legitimated, it would be the biggest stupidity to attack civilians because that’s one of the conditions for the belligerent status they are seeking: No attacks on civilian population. And doing anything to hurt the hostages will just prove that they are, as we already know, terrorists. And while on paper it all sounds so easy, I still have hope that this march will mean something to them as well.

This being said, I will put on my white t-shirt this afternoon to go and say NO MÁS FARC here in KC, at the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, from 4 to 6 p.m.. I will be a beautiful day, 60F, just a few clouds in the sky. The whole world is Colombian today.

Technorati Tags: March against FARC, Colombians, Peace, NO MORE FARC