“Diary of a Kidnapped Colombian Governor” Released

The Center for Global Nonkilling and Cascadia Publishing House have released the English translation of “Diary of a Kidnapped Colombian Governor”, by Guillermo Gaviria Correa, Governor of Antioquia (Colombia), who was kidnapped and murdered by the FARC during a failed rescue attempt in May 5, 2003. The edition is launched on the seventh anniversary of his death and commemmorates Gaviria’s commitment to nonviolence as a political strategy.

Order your copy from Cascadia Publishing House.

Comment: “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

“This book by an inspired Christian political leader, offering both a love story and a record of his captivity and vision, shows why he is as distinctively important for the nonviolent human future as Gandhi and King.” — Glenn D. Paige, Author of Nonkilling Global Political Science

“Governor Gaviria: I see you reading the Divine Comedy with lucidity and with admiration in the painful hours of your captivity… I see … you … descending the staircase of that hell and trying to imagine, while doing so, how to build stairs that will lead to light and peace.” —William Ospina, Colombian poet and essayist, in the Foreword

The Author: Dedicating himself to nonviolent leadership and love, Guillermo Gaviria Correa was governor of Colombia’s state of Antioquia until as part of seeking to implement his nonviolent vision he was taken hostage in 2002 and killed during a 2003 rescue attempt.
The Editor: James F. S. Amstutz, Akron, Pennsylvania, is Pastor, Akron Mennonite Church.  He currently serves as the Missional Church Development Coordinator for the Atlantic Coast Conference (MC USA), and Chairs the Homes of Hope-Ephrata board which provides transitional housing for homeless individuals and families.

Publisher: Cascadia Publishing House LLC
Imprint: DreamSeeker Books
Copublishers: Herald Press and Center for Global Nonkilling
Publication date:May 5, 2010
Pages: 284 with photos
Format: 6 x 9″ trade paper
Prices: $17.95 US/Can. ISBN 13: 978-1-931038-72-0;
ISBN 10: 1-931038-72-4