Online Anti-FARC Protest Grows in Columbia

A grass-roots, online protest against the condition of kidnapped hostages held by FARC in Columbia has become almost main stream with support from Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe and El Tiempo, the country's most influential newspaper.

"Its staggering growth-rate - it gathered some 3,000 supporters in the first 24 hours, and at the time of writing has 261,236 virtual members - sufficed to encourage Morales to back up this cyber-protest with physical ones on 4 February. This is taking place simultaneously in 45 Colombian cities and towns, and rallies in solidarity are also scheduled in 115 cities worldwide (60 in the Americas, 40 in Europe, and 15 in Asia and Oceania)."

The article, by Swiss based the International Security and Relations Network, also provides a good analysis of issues related to this type of online protest such as how easy the "protest message" can become over simplified and the impact of mainstream politicians becoming involved.

Colombia: Networks of dissent and power

The Facebook group is called "A Million Voices Against FARC".