4 July, 2008

• Le Tour begins manana! #

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From the Human Rights Watch

(Washington, DC, July 2, 2008) - Human Rights Watch today welcomed reports that 15 hostages that had been held for several years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been rescued. Human Rights Watch called on the FARC to immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of others still being held.

According to press reports, the hostages rescued in an operation by Colombian security forces today include former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who in a recently released video appeared to be in very poor health, three US citizens and 11 other Colombians.  
 
“The FARC had been holding these people hostage for years, in some of the most miserable and inhumane conditions,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “It’s wonderful that these hostages will finally rejoin their families.”  
 
Human Rights Watch added that, in light of reports that there were no civilian casualties, the Colombian security forces should be commended for carrying out an effective mission that respected international humanitarian law.  
 
However, Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the lives and well-being of the hundreds of other hostages that the FARC continues to hold for ransom or political gain.  
 
“The FARC’s continued holding of hostages and systematic kidnappings amount to a crime against humanity that should be universally condemned,” said Vivanco. “They should long ago have released all the hostages, and stopped inflicting so much pain on not only the hostages, but all their loved ones.”  

Today marks the year anniversary of my dad’s death.  I never had the opportunity to say goodbye.  In fact, I learned of his death via the internet on 08 October 2008 when I googled him; I found his obituary!  It would be remiss of me to not mention that he was a good father to me in the way he could be.  He gave me a good home at the age of 12, food to eat, a safe place to be from a home of violence.  He gave me privileges that I would’ve never seen had I remained living w/ Mary Ann.

And so, a year later, I’m mindful of the things that I have from him:  my nose, my personality, my laughter, my spontaneity, my business savviness, and my wit.  I miss the BBQs, and I miss the lake and floating down the river.  Though we had some hard times and we never had the opportunity to reconcile, I have nothing but love for him.

I wish you peace, dad.  Those are my words to you that I never had a chance to say to you!  I’m a theologian and as a Feminist Liberation Theologian, I seek to have grace.