Peace and Respect for Colombia

The
new year started off on a very good note for Colombia. Two hostages
held for over six years, by the narco-guerrillas of the FARC
(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) were liberated and the son of
one of the hostages was found safely in Bogotá. However, it seems the
joys maybe ending as quickly as they started.

A resent row between Colombia and Venezuela has begun, due to the
meddling of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the internal affairs of
its neighboring country. The issue has been the defamation of the
Colombian government in its efforts to end the armed conflict that has
plagued that country for over 40 years. To add insult to injury,
Chávez, with the support of the Venezuelan National Assembly, will seek
to classify the FARC as belligerents of an armed struggle, and remove
the international title they have so commendably earned: terrorists.

It is perplexing, that a head of state would openly side with a
group that has kidnapped over 1,500 people, including 68 Venezuelans.
It is disgraceful that a head of state would advocate the casus belli
of a group that chains its victims to cages, that has assassinated its
hostages execution style, that invents collar-bombs and joyfully
attaches it to people as a means of extortion, and that has taken up
arms against a democratically elected government.

It is sad and embarrassing that Chávez has focused his efforts,
speeches, and actions to foment political instability instead of
serving as a catalyst and mediator for peace and a safe return of
hostages. His current actions can only be interpreted as a provocation
for the Colombian government to break diplomatic relations between the
two countries; a move that could be justified, however, would only add
fuel the fire.

Colombia needs international cooperation to resolve its armed
conflict issue; however, this cooperation must be within the parameters
defined by the Colombian government, and not those dictated by any
government-especially one that is friendly to the FARC.

More importantly, Colombia needs and DESERVES peace, they DESERVE
respect, and they DESERVE the liberation of all their hostages.