Be a World Citizen

I have just come back from the UK, and spent quite a bit of yesterday reading about a young man who tried to fight for the freedom and democratic rights of others.  Unfortunately, due to a couple of media plunders, that young man had to give up his front line work, but will probably do good things behind the scenes in future.  Bad luck they spotted you, Harry!

At the weekend, there was an incursion into Ecuador, and the second in command of the FARC was killed - there was a bit about that in the papers, but not nearly so much - after all, it is a continent away and nothing to do with us.

The week before the FARC released some of the hostages it has been holding for years, who brought with them out of the Columbian jungle news of another hostage.  She is called Ingrid Betancourt, she has been a hostage of the FARC for over 2000 days, she is being treated appallingly, and it is reported that she has hepatitis and may be dying.

Up in the United States, we are being kept enthralled by a contest for who will stand for President between a potential first woman President and a potential first black President.  It is a momentous moment for the world, but what does it have to do with Ingrid?  At the time she was taken hostage, she was campaigning to be President of Columbia, and 6 days before she was taken, she was filmed with the 2nd in command of FARC, demanding an end to hostilities, to hostage taking and to trying to pervert the course of democracy.

If Hilary Clinton or Barak Obama were to be kidnapped before the next bout of primaries, there would be an international outcry about democracy and law and order.  If they were held for 6 years, the country suspected of hiding them would be bombed to smithereens (think of Afghanistan or Iraq).  What would happen if they died in captivity?

Think back to the release of John McCarthy, Terry Waite and Brian Keenan, and then be a world citizen and sign the petition to release Ingrid Betancourt.

Comments

[john]

The UKs apparent lack of interest is ill-considered in the extreme, IMHO. The situation in South America has deteriorated drastically and if the three countries involved (Columbia, Venezuala and Ecuador) do get stuck into a war, the results will be devastating for the west. Hugo chavez has a 'pact' with Iran and as Chavez sees the hand of America in this recent Ecuadorian expedition by the Columbian forces, he will turn off the oil. So will Iran. Sure as eggs are eggs. Not for long, maybe but even if they did it for just a month, the price would go into orbit. Venezuala and Ecuador are both very left wing, politically and no doubt Putin and the New Castro would find it hard not to get involved. Which would be like a red rag to a GW Bush.
And once we take an eye off poor Ingrid Betancourt, I fear she will be lost.
Having said all that I did rather cheer when I heard Raul Reyes (FARCs No2.) had been slain, because he was an evil so and so.

[Jane]

Thanks, John. As you rightly point out, there is oil in the neighbourhood (although the Americans tend to focus on the drugs when they talk about Columbia), and that is very much a world issue.

I trust you have signed the petition then?