(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-05 09:26

BOGOTA - Thousands of Colombians marched through the main streets of Colombia's cities on Monday to protest against the nation's leading rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and demand the freeing of FARC hostages.

In an unheard-of demonstration, people wearing white walked through the main streets of Bogota and rallied in Plaza Bolivar, location of the Palace of Justice, the Bogota City Hall and the nation's legislature, the Congress. There they chanted "No more FARC."

Across Colombia they carried placards rejecting the FARC as representing Colombia's people and demanding an end to hostage taking and violence.

"We want to tell the FARC that we are a new generation and that they don't represent young people, that we don't want any more violence or armed struggle, and that we don't want the international community to recognize this criminal and terrorist struggle as a fight for political ideals," demonstrator Miguel Mecias said.    

Colombia's right-wing government intensified its campaign against the FARC after Hugo Chavez, left-wing President of neighboring Venezuela, publicly asked for the group to be recognized as belligerents instead of terrorists, as a first step towards pacifying the nation.

Under Geneva Convention a belligerent force has to halt kidnappings, but their fighters would no longer be treated as criminals.

Colombia's President, Alvaro Uribe, toured Europe last month in a bid to convince policymakers there that the FARC do not have any political motivation, but are instead terrorists who must be exterminated by military means. The organizers of Monday's march rejected any link to Uribe's government.

The initiative has been backed by Colombians overseas, and backed by consulates and embassies following orders from Colombia's Foreign Ministry. Uribe thanked the demonstrators for their show of solidarity.

Colombians are demonstrating in Uruguay's capital Montevideo, Germany's capital Berlin, Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, Chile' s capital Santiago, Mexico's capital Mexico City, the United States capital Washington, Venezuela's capital Caracas, as well as in HongKong of China and Guayaquil.

Due to the fear of revenge, families of the kidnapped went to religious ceremonies and did not back the march, instead calling for a humanitarian exchange of hostages for rebels held in Colombian jails.

The FARC have about 43 hostages they describe as high value, including three United States military contractors; and senior military, police and political figures.