The streets of
With flags and white T-shirts saying “No more FARC” and “No
more kidnapping,” demonstrators from
Marches were held in other major cities in the country as well as in other 125 capitals around the world.
The protest comes a day after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said that it will release three former lawmakers that were kidnapped seven years ago.
The videos recently released by the government from the FARC
showing the hostages in chains have enraged the people. They were meant to
trigger the mobilization of the crowds. The FARC is considered a terrorist
group by the
Jaime Martinez, a student clothed in a Colombian flag and having "Peace" painted on his face, said: "No more FARC, we don't want any more FARC, young people have to say no to the FARC and tell them to stop their violence," Reuters reports.
President Alvaro Uribe said at a private television about the massive turn out: “Today the citizens have more faith in the state, they have more faith in the army.”
According to Samuel Rojas, mayor of
Similar protests were organized by hundreds Colombian
embassies in
Although 200 people turned at the march in
Astrid Betancourt, Ingrid’s sister, said: “We condemn this manipulation. It's propaganda, which while pretending to be against the FARC is completely organized by the government,” AFP informs.
Apparently the idea of the protest came from a campaign started by some students on Facebook, calling their protest “Million Voices Against the FARC.”
FARC is accused of drug trafficking and for taking over 750 people as hostages.
Among the hostages there are 43 high-profile hostages, like
Betancourt and three Americans. The FARC says that they will trade them for 500
rebels from Colombian prisons. It also wants for the government to form a zone
in the southwest of the country, of the size of
The rebels said they will release Gloria Polanco, Luis
Eladio Perez and Orlando Beltran, former lawmakers to