BOGOTA, Colombia – Well more than 1 million Colombians, clad in white and shouting “No more kidnapping,” marked their independence day yesterday with marches and concerts demanding freedom for hostages held by leftist rebels.
Demonstrators chanted “Libertad!” – the Spanish word for freedom – in rallies across the Andean nation and in some 40 cities abroad, including Paris, London, Miami, Beijing, Sydney and New York.
It was the second nationwide mobilization this year against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and its policy of kidnapping for ransom or political leverage. Latin America's last major rebel army holds dozens of hostages in Colombian jungle jails, some for more than a decade.
Bogota's central Plaza Bolivar was jammed with marchers waving miniature white peace flags, balloons and Colombia's red, blue and yellow flag and carrying banners reading “Free them now!”
In one group, 20 marchers wore chains around their necks, mimicking conditions of captives.
At least 900,000 people marched in the capital alone, said city police commander Gen. Rodolfo Palomino.
In the jungle border city of Leticia, native daughter Shakira performed after singing the national anthem at a military parade presided over by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the presidents of Brazil and Peru attending.
“Today is a historic day. We unite, unite our voices in a single shout: Liberty!” Shakira said. About 120,000 musicians took the stage in cities and villages across Colombia, Uribe said.
In Paris, newly freed hostage Ingrid Betancourt presided over a concert held in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. She addressed FARC leader Alfonso Cano, whose fighters held her captive for more than six years.
“Understand that it's now time to stop spilling blood, that the time has come to exchange those rifles for roses,” pleaded Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician who showered hugs and kisses of appreciation on the concert headliners, Colombian singer Juanes and Spanish singer Miguel Bose.
Thousands of people turned out for the free concert at Paris' Place du Trocadero, which was awash in the red, yellow and blue colors of the Colombian flag.
The Paris-raised Betancourt, whom the FARC kidnapped in 2002 while she was running for Colombia's presidency, was rescued July 2 in a bloodless military mission along with 14 other hostages – including three Americans.
A Colombian police officer freed with her, Sgt. Julio César Buitrago, suggested that the nation mark its July 20 independence day with a march to demand that the FARC release the captive comrades they left behind.
Simlar marches were held Feb. 4, when the FARC was in the process of releasing of six Colombian politicians. After those releases, the FARC declared it would free no more hostages until Uribe agreed to trade imprisoned guerrillas for captives.
The government estimates the rebels have 700 hostages but acknowledges that tally includes people kidnapped since 1996, many of whom have probably died.
The FARC is at its weakest point militarily in 44 years of struggle. After the bloodless rescue, which boosted the president's approval ratings to record levels, Uribe froze all international mediation efforts with the guerrillas.
In a speech to Congress later yesterday, Uribe said “we will persist in the work of freeing those remaining in captivity and in exterminating terrorism.”
