Perspective consciousness State of the Planet Awareness Cross Cultural Awareness Knowledge of Global Dynamics Awareness of Human Choice

Human Rights & The Geneva Convention In Latin America

April 28, 2008

Three U.S. hostages in Colombia, seen for the first time since their capture, make an emotional videotaped plea for help. (CBS)

Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped in February

Stansell's father Gene (left), son Kyle and mother Lynne spoke with reporters outside the Colombian ambassador's residence in New York in September 2007 George Gonsalves poses with a photograph of his son Marc Gonsalves (C), Keith Stansell (L) and Thomas Howes at his home in Hebron, Connecticut February 12, slideshow?articleId=USN & channelName=topNews#a=1

Silvio Hernandez holds a picture of his kidnapped son, Elquin, during a demonstration outside Colombia's Congress. dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR html

There are now two dozen American companies here, with the contracts for antidrug programs worth $178 million last year. They spray coca fields, operate eavesdropping devices, organize alternative development programs, repair airplanes, assess intelligence and advise the Colombian Defense Ministry.

Farc rebels want senior leaders released stm ricas/ stm

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack US urges FARC to free US hostages

France has campaigned for the release of Ingrid Betancourt

Columbia's president has accepted the counties Roman Catholic's bishops offer to mediate in the conflict with the country's left-wing rebels. olombia.accepts.church.mediation/3767. htm

The US government bankrolls the Colombian government to the tune of more than $600m a year President Alvaro Uribe previously ruled out exchanging rebel hostages for guerrillas serving sentences for crimes like murder and kidnapping. However, next year is an election year and he is hoping to win another term

07/02/betancourt.colombia/index.html

Misuse of the Red Cross emblem is governed by articles 37, 38 and 85 of Additional Protocol One to the Geneva Conventions, the international rules of war. The articles prohibit “feigning of protected status by the use of … emblems” of neutral parties and say that such misuses are considered breaches of international humanitarian law that qualify as a “war crime.” Intentional misuse of the Red Cross symbol is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, as it can place humanitarian war zone workers in serious danger and undermines neutrality of the Red Cross.

US Families US DEA CIA France Ingrid Betancourt US Hostages Bishops Corps ICRC Colombian Families FARC Colombia Colombian Hostages

Perspective consciousness State of the Planet Awareness Cross Cultural Awareness Knowledge of Global Dynamics Awareness of Human Choice

Perspective consciousness Perspective from... 5 groups of individuals 3 Non-Government Organizations 3 Nation States 1 Treaty Based Organization

State of the Planet Awareness ? ? Time Newsweek CNN BBC Christian Today Washington Post Reuters CBS

X ? Knowledge of Global Dynamics USA fights drug trafficking Employees taken hostage by Revolutionaries The Catholic Church tries to Negotiate Colombian Government rejects demands The ICRC loses credibility A Rescue Plot is Hatched War Crimes Committed

Awareness of Human Choice twin-engine Beech King Air 300's single-engine Cessna Caravan misuse of international emblems Do the ends Justify the means

Human Rights & The Geneva Convention In Latin America Robert Bailey, University of South Florida