Asdrúbal Jiménez and Sonia Roldan

Asdrúbal Jiménez and Sonia Roldan were born in Colombia in 1948 and 1945 and came to London in 1988. They talk about the medal that Asdrubal received for his human rights work.

Listen to Asdrúbal and Sonia (in Spanish, mp3, 1.1mb)

Transcript

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Asdrúbal

'I have closely followed the peace process in Colombia. I have been very involved because I believe that one of the big problems in Colombia is institutional violence and the necessary response of certain sections of the population who have organised themselves into guerrilla movements.

'And at the same time how the state has been protecting not only the criminal impunity of different kinds of common delinquency but also the criminal activity of state agents and their paramilitary structures and their financial backers and promoters, et cetera, et cetera.

'So it seems to me that this has been something that has been consistent with me all this time. Since making a positive physical recovery and having got over the effects of the criminal assassination attempt on me, I have spent a large part of my time in the development of all these multifaceted activities.

'And I have been invited by many bodies, for example I was invited with the organisation Praxis to the People’s Tribunal in Strasbourg, I have also been invited to participate in institutions and institutional conferences like Pio Mansu - Pio Mansu, the Italian institute which is a consultative body of the United Nations, where I was recognised for my work and I was given a decoration two years ago.'

Sonia

'That was beautifully satisfying, and very exciting for me, many tears. The event was great and the place and the participants, the people, the quality of people who attended the conference. A lot of people working for food in the world for everyone, working for a roof for everyone, for equality, for the end of wars. 

'It was also the place where he was given recognition; that was very worthy and gratifying, I say it humbly, for Asdrúbal and for me.'

Copyright Evelyn Oldfield Unit