Marches clash with hostage relatives

Caracas Daily Journal (Vincent Bevins): More than 2,000 people marched Monday in an anti-FARC protest whose goals they claimed were apolitical, but have been controversial. And Tuesday the relatives of three hostages held by the FARC arrived in Caracas and met with foreign minister Nicolás Maduro in expectation of the liberation of the three ex-congresspersons. The relatives of the hostages are hopeful of a quick unilateral liberation due to Chávez mediation, and some have been critical of the marches.The marches which took part mostly in opposition strongholds in Caracas were a smaller version of demonstrations which took place throughout Colombia, with a simple message: "No to FARC violence." The marches, entitled "one million voices against the FARC," have their genesis in a Facebook online networking group and has received support from Colombian president Álvaro Uribe.

The leaders of the march in Caracas seemed to be many of the same leaders of the student movement that surged last year and seemed to be fundamental in the defeat of Chávez proposed constitutional reform.Globovision quoted student leader Freddy Guevara as saying that "while the FARC is being protected, Venezuelans die of hunger, that is hypocrisy." And Jon Goicochea: "While they free three hostages, another hundred are kidnapped…no to kidnappings, long live the exchange of hope between Colombia and Venezuela."It is very controversial whether any money which could go to hungry Venezuelans is actually being used to protect the FARC, or if that number, if any, hostages are being taken by the FARC these days. The Venezuelan government vehemently denies both charges.

But despite these leaders' status in the anti-Chávez movement, the marches, based in Colombia, have been insistent that their only aim is to "say no to FARC violence," admitting that this does not exclude some of its participants from supporting paramilitary or Colombian military violence. It is also denied that these protests are directed against president Chávez or his attempts to mediate exchanges with the rebels.The FARC is the largest and most influential Marxist guerrilla army operating in the Colombian jungle. A civil war has raged for over 40 years, and current Colombian president Álvaro Uribe has been especially vehement in declaring them terrorists. They do not deny that their tactics include taking civilian hostages, but they still claim to be a socialist revolutionary movement.

Last year, Uribe actually asked Chávez to mediate a humanitarian hostage exchange with the rebels. Many saw the process as promising, as there had been little breakthroughs in negotiations with the rebels in years. But Uribe cancelled the negotiations, claiming that Chávez had broken the rules of the talks.Since then relations have spun out of control between the two countries, as Chávez now calls Uribe a "liar" and a "mafia boss," while Uribe accuses Chávez of working with the rebels themselves.Despite the end of negotiations, Chávez and Colombian senator Piedad Córdaba managed negotiate a unilateral release of two high-profile hostages earlier this year. Upon release, the hostages claimed that an earlier attempt at their release was thwarted by an attack from the Colombian military, putatively an attempt by Uribe to embarrass Chávez.

But three relatives of high-profile hostages, Colombian ex-congresspersons Gloria Polanco de Lozada, Luis Eladio Pérez y Orlando Beltrán Cuellar, arrived in Caracas Tuesday hopeful that mediations carried out by Chávez and Córdoba would lead to the prompt release of the captives.They met with Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro and said they were confident that the talks would see their relatives soon, though a definite date has not been set.Chávez has re-iterated the progress of the talks, saying that "we are moving the operations forward to rescue them, and we are urging the FARC to continue giving demonstrations, independent of the government of Colombia which is subordinated to the United States.Córdoba and the families of the hostages have been openly critical of the anti-FARC marches. Córdoba called them "hateful" and counterproductive.

"What is does is polarize the country," said Deyanira Ortiz de Beltran, wife of supposedly soon-to-be-freed. Families of the hostages preferred to visit churches to pray for the freedom of their loved ones rather than join the protests, she said. The polarization could be seen in Colombian counter-protests supporting the idea of a humanitarian exchange.And the mother of the most high-profile hostage, Ingrid Betancourt made a much more controversial public statement yesterday. She, Yolanda Pulecio, went to rome to ask the Pope for a miracle: that Uribe stop being the president of Colombia."I believe that only through dialogue can a solution for Colombia be acquired, and not only for the hostages, but for peace in the country." She had previously claimed that Uribe does not care about the hostages.