I was discovering that the most precious gift someone can give us is time, because what gives time its value is death.
In Colombia, women are a huge factor for reconciliation. I have seen many strong women advocating for negotiations. I remember when the paramilitary were active, there were women close to the paramilitary asking for negotiations.
As a Colombian, the only way I can relate to my country is through suffering. I hope that my children and my grandchildren will relate to the beautiful country in a way that it is positive and loving.
The relationship with time changes when you're captive.
During my captivity, I felt abandoned by everyone apart from my family and supporters, because there was no part of the political spectrum that would want me released.
In captivity, one loses every way of acting over little details which satisfy the essentials of life. Everything has to be asked for: permission to go to the toilet, permission to ask a guard something, permission to talk to another hostage - to brush your teeth, use toilet paper, everything is a negotiation.
I called my party the Green Oxygen party because Colombians were choking.
Reconciliation is a national decision that has to be debated and a consensus made among Colombians.
I want to tell President Sarkozy - and through him, all the French people - that they were our support, our light.
I was forbidden to talk to my fellow hostages.
We can't continue with a justice of vengeance. Peace will require us to accept a certain degree of impunity; it's inevitable.
In a kidnapping, you leave behind a lot of your baggage, like arrogance and stubbornness.
Like in every peace process, and especially in Colombia, there all kinds of problems that will come through. Not only is the process by itself very complicated but it has lots of underground complications.
I want to serve my country, but not necessarily in the political arena.
These years after my liberation were years of reconstruction, and I think I made the right decisions... I mean, I lost everything: my life; my father died; I didn't know anything about my children.
I don't want to be submerged by depression.
When you lose your freedom, you are alone with your emotions and reactions... you can see, for example, the bad reactions you have in front of others or the way you could be dismissive or harsh.
