Face to face with my captor of the ELN

September 12, 2003, British Mark Henderson and other tourists seven Europeans have been held hostage by the guerrilla army of national liberation in the Sierra Nevada in North Colombia. Six years later, Mark and one of the former hostages reset Weigel, met again with one of his captors.

The return trip and encounter with Antonio, former member of the Colombian guerrilla group are at the base of "My kidnap (my kidnapper)", a documentary directed by Henderson released this Friday at the United Kingdom.

"My kidnapper" was performed and produced by Mark Henderson and Kate Horne.

"I've owned for 101 days and 11 months after my release in 2004, one of my captors put in touch with me by email." "" "The film tells the story of the performance of the Colombia of four of the hostages, myself and three of my colleagues to see what has happened and finally meet our kidnapper," commented Henderson in dialogue with the world of the BBC.

"Abduction will always be removal." Regardless of what was then was a horrible time in my life. But it is something that belongs to the past. And meeting Antonio allowed me to leave it later in the past. "Now I no question on the removal and helps me move forward," added the Director.

Please contact me maybe he wanted to make more light on the situation in Colombia. But I think he wanted to also explain why we have been removed and show us that it is not a bad person. I also think that it was a way to ask for forgiveness

Mark Henderson, filmmaker

Film Henderson has a double trip: yours as ancient in captivity and Antonio: former guerrilla.

When he made contact with his former hostage, Antonio had already left the ELN, has changed the lives and settled in another country.

The reasons which led him to contact Henderson is one of the key issues that tries to answer the film.

"To be in touch with me maybe I wanted to further inform the situation in Colombia". But I think he wanted to also explain why we have been removed and show us that it is not a bad person. I also think that it was a way to ask for forgiveness. "It is difficult to know their motivations, but I think that he should also be explained and felt that we deserve an explanation," said the Director.

Henderson was 101 days captivity in the Colombian jungle.

In 2003, Jaime Bernal Cuéllar, former Attorney General of the nation and a member of the Commission has received the released hostages, observed that with the retention of seven tourists wanted ELN "demonstrate that there could be a political solution to the conflict" and draw the attention of the Government on "humanitarian aspects of the different regions of the Colombia".

Outside the guerrilla group, Antonio always remain faithful to certain principles of his former causes, but uncheck the use of methods such as removal.

"It was ironic to think that our human rights are violated to highlight other human rights violations in the Colombia region. "His conclusion over time is that was wrong and that there is no justification to remove anyone,"he said Henderson.""

But my "kidnapper" is not only a film about the conflict in Colombia.

The ability to start and forgiveness may be, questions involving Henderson the filming of his experience and to share with viewers.

All I can say is that it is our history. We were thus able to move forward and reach a point which is possible to forgive and where one might also ask forgiveness

Mark Henderson, filmmaker

"I send a message with this film." She saw many people, and there are many different reactions (...). All I can say is that it is our history. "We were thus able advance and reach a point where it is possible to forgive and where you can ask forgiveness", said Director.

This Friday, "My kidnapper" debuted in rooms at the United Kingdom by its broadcast on British television in late February.

Previously, the film has been shown at various festivals and in November 2010 has been projected for the first time in Colombia de Bogotá documentaries international exhibition.

"I felt the pressure because our removal is also part of Colombian history but perhaps only allow a footnote". But people have reacted very well. "Thought that if we could move forward, perhaps others also can," Henderson concluded.

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