Diary of a Kidnapped Columbian Governor:

A Journey Toward Nonviolent Transformation

The dramatic rescue and release of Colombia hostage Ingrid Betancourt on July 2, 2008, riveted the world’s attention. Another kidnapping victim the same year Betancourt was taken captive was the governor of Antioquia, Guillermo Gaviria Correa. Little known is his embrace of nonviolence as a political strategy that led to his capture by the FARC and his death during a failed rescue attempt May 5, 2003. This English translation of his diary book is being published on the seventh anniversary of his death.

"Governor Guillermo is the Martin Luther King Jr. of Colombia." —Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., Distinguished Senior Scholar in Residence, "A Kingian Nonviolence Scholar," Emory University

"Governor Gaviria’s writings reveal a brave and deeply spiritual man, whose compassionate heart and fine mind were not corrupted by suffering but deepened to an all-encompassing unconditional love of everyone, including his captors." —Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire cofounded the Community of the Peace People in Northern Ireland

"Through the governor’s. . . . suffering and death we count the cost of our convictions to strive for a nonkilling global society. Will the work continue?" —James F. S. Amstutz, in the Editor’s Preface