In order to draw attention to the long-ignored plight of his son held
hostage by FARC, Professor Gustavo Moncayo plans to crucify himself in
Plaza Bolivar, Bogota.
By doing so, Moncayo hopes to force the Colombian government to address the challenges impeding the release of his son, Corporal Pablo Emilio, along with that of soldier Josue Daniel Calvo, whose capture was announced more than four months ago by the FARC. Pablo Emilio has been held prisoner by the insurgent group for twelve years.
Moncayo says that the FARC have promised to release his son but due to an inability of the guerrillas and the government to compromise, Corporal Pablo Emilio remains a hostage.
“As a father I am forced to do this in order to petition for the freedom of my son, [since] the government will not facilitate the process,” Moncayo said.
He added that the government’s indifference is an outrage to the families of hostages. “You have to separate this political ego, because we families are the ones that suffer.”
The FARC is currently holding 24 members of the security forces captive, along with a few hundred civilians.
