Protesting the FARC Part 2
Thanks to Ana-Isabel, a Colombian student of mine who sent me some photos emailed to her by friends back home. She also gave me this link to more photos at El Tiempo. In all, impressive stuff.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
I've heard estimates of 1.5 to 2 million people in Bogota and 5 million globally. The Bogota estimate sounds about right. However, 5 million is probably a bit high and there were probably 3.5 million globally.
Even the low estimates are impressive, though the scope of it (masses of people all over the world) is more important than guessing exactly how many participated.
What's amazing is how quickly this happened.
From a bunch of improvised youngsters in the Internet to a global event in a matter of weeks.
Kinda undermines their claim to be a popular movment.
2 million out of 44 million (govt. guesstimate) isn't that bad. Considering ...
3 out of 4 ppl in Colombia can't afford the internet. 49% of Colombians live below poverty level so ... not sure if they have tv to watch the news at home.
Most Colombians have TV's.
Guys, What's the main argument Chavez has to justify his interventionist policy in Colombia? Anyone knows?
The following article should be read by anyone interested in more complexly thinking about the anti-FARC marches.
Especially those of us stuck with the US media (or in my case the Ecuadorian, just as bad).
Mobilization against the FARC and kidnappings: Keys to understanding the February 4th march
http://alainet.org/active/22051&lang=en
Wow ! Mr. Weeks, Thanks for the post :)
I know for many people it meant a lot, even though many around the world were unaware of the cause.
I am not exactly sure, but I think part of it started after president Chavez claimed that the FARC-EP should not be called terrorists. So, as you can see from all the previous comments and if you see the news about the protest itself around the world, not just in the main cities of Colombia, we are tired of the outcomes this guerrilla warfare has had on us. I think coming from Colombia, it is just hard to see the result of a someone being kidnapped and how deteriorated that person ends up (if luckily or not, released). Moreover, living there it is not weird to watch or read in the newspaper everyday about some bus, town, or building structure that was bombed, along with the picture of someone dead. It is difficult, but apart from the violent arena, I wish sometimes some people could just see the other side. There are very good things Colombia has to offer to the world, like coffee, that I hope one day become the symbol, rather than the violence or the drug trade going on. Thus, I am still proud to say I come from Colombia. Like someone very dear to me used to say: "If it wasnt for the violence we live everyday, Colombia would be a paradise."
People should keep in mind that the vast majority of human rights abuses are commited by the paramilitaries and by the army.
The FARCs crimes should be protested, but in not protesting the crimes of all armed actors, protest organizers are denying and trying to erase the majority of the pain that the war has caused.
I strongly reccomend that folks read this article
http://alainet.org/active/22051〈=en
Post a Comment