A Colombian policeman has managed to escape after almost nearly nine years as a hostage by left-wing Farc rebels. In interviews Jhon Frank Pinchaoe said that he had planned to escape for eight and a half years. He finally managed it when his captors finally let down their guard.
He spoke about how he walked, swam and crawled through the Amazon jungle in the eastern parts of the country before he finally stumbled on an army patrol. It took him 17 days before he was finally found.
Pinchao had been kidnapped by Farc, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, when the rebels attacked the town of Mitu in 1998. Since then Pinchao says that he and other hostages were moved from once camp to another every few months in order to prevent detection. He mentions that there are other hostages which he left behind.
The abduction of individuals, regrettably a worldwide phenomena, is not an unusual occurrence. Presently the BBC, family and friends of Alan Johnston are trying to find the journalist who was kidnapped in Gaza city about two months ago. What is unusual is the power of the will of this Colombian to escape.
For an incredibly long period of time, Pinchao observed every move of his captors in order to evaluate his opportunities to escape. He never gave up. For endless days that stretched into years this person looked for opportunities to escape. He knew his goal, he obsessed over it and he finally made the break and survived over two weeks in a jungle before being found.
It's stories like these that remind us of the spirit of the human race that can withstand hardships over long periods of time and never give up. In fact I have often thought that lengthy periods of peace and economic stability can bring out the worst in human beings. It is during times of hardships such as wars and natural disasters o being kidnapped that humans show truly heroic behaviour.
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(6,290) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (1 year 235 days ago.)
Excellent article that does show the determination of people to survive. Certainly POW's in Viet Nam did the same as do those held throughout the wolrd for political and other reasons. Certainly some never return like in China after Korea and some in Nam who held fast to their ideals an convictions. They are swallowed up by a uncaring society. You know out of sight out of mind. It is one more episode of mans inhumanity to man. Good work. Respond to this comment
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