Colombia's
FARC rebels hold over 3000 current hostages, including soldiers,
lawmakers,
presidential candidates,
Americans,
Canadians,
Japanese, a
Turk, 291 children (including one born in captivity who is the
youngest hostage in the world), and a disillusioned
Dutch convert whose diary was recently discovered. Family members of the kidnapped can send messages to their loved ones on a
popular radio show. More about Colombian kidnappings in Silvana Paternostro's captivating memoir
My Colombian War.
posted by mert
on Nov 26, 2007 -
8 comments
The Octopus in the Cathedral of Salt is an investigative essay by
Phillip Robertson with pictures by photojournalist
Carlos Villalon on the link between the Chiquita banana company and Colombian paramilitary organization
AUC. Excerpt:
We were drinking Aguilas and the night was winding down and I was half-listening to the conversation. Everyone else had gone downstairs. Carlos turned to me and said, “Is there anything you want to ask him before he goes home?” “I want to know if he heard anything about a shipment of guns that arrived at the Chiquita docks.” Years had passed, but it was worth a shot. “Sure,” Lorenzo said, “I was there. I supervised the unloading of the rifles.” [more inside]
posted by Kattullus
on Sep 25, 2007 -
8 comments
Were these guys birdwatchers, or IRA members training FARC guerillas in improvised explosive techniques? Suddenly, mysteriously back on Irish soil, the "Colombia 3" - James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley - have caused a shitstorm for Bertie Ahern and his ministers; especially in the wake of the newly announced IRA disarmament.
posted by punkbitch
on Aug 11, 2005 -
17 comments
