Life and work Hernando Calvo Ospina

in september 1985 while studying journalism @ central university of quito, ecuador, hernando calvo ospina detained , disappeared . reported constitutional court of country , amnesty international spent 3 days handcuffed , foot cuffed blind-folded. during time not permitted sleep, not fed , scarcely gave him water. through kidnappers learnt had been captured during joint operative of colombia-ecuadorian military intelligence. being accused of belonging colombian guerrilla. transferred sic (police crime investigation service) in boot of car, still hand , foot cuffed , blindfolded. brutally tortured, beaten , given electric shocks 5 days. fed bread , left-overs officers social club canteen. after established had no relation subversive organization, on 4 october sent prison, spent around 3 months without trial. facing massive international pressure, government had release him though put him on plane fly directly lima, peru, on 28 december 1985, lived 2 months, under protection of united nations high commission refugees. government of alan garcía considered him persona non grata , demanded him leave country. arrived in paris under protection of french government on 15 march 1985.

he survived in france cleaning offices before taking again profession journalist.

he has been volleyball referee , coach , passionate dancer , collector of salsa music.

he has written several books; translated different languages (see bibliography).

he permanent contributor left-wing french monthly le monde diplomatique, has taken part in documentaries tv channels, british bbc, french-german arte , german ard.

he has shared lectures personalities such fidel castro ruz , venezuelan president hugo chávez frias. among politicians has interviewed ecuadorian president rafael correa.

as journalist has interviewed several colombian guerrilla leaders such raul reyes (†) farc (revolutionary armed forces of colombian) , manuel perez martinez (†) head of eln (national liberation army).

in order write book don pablo escobar, spent several days members of so-called medellín cartel. when doing peru, possible paths interviewed various army generals , members , supporters of shining path organization. in miami , new york interviewed leaders of cuban organizations have been identified responsible of terrorist crimes. these interviews published in cuban exile movement.

in january 2005 documentary secret of bat: bacardi between rum , revolution calvo ospina took part received bronze world medal @ new york film festival. based on book bacardi, hidden war .

on 5 february 2009 gave speech private army societies in colombia during study workshops on privatization of violence organized centre of research of saint-cyr coëtquidan (crec), high studies college french army officers.

he researcher , reporter of terrorism of state in colombia american policy, against latin america. discovered in 2009 in no fly list of usa authorities when plane had boarded received prohibition overfly american aerospace due national security reasons .

he not hide liking cuban revolution neither bolivarian revolution in venezuela nor process of changes president evo morales developing in bolivia. insists there must negotiable political solution internal conflict in colombia.

rerouting of air france 438

according ospina, traveling on assignment le monde diplomatique, air france flight paris mexico city on 18 april 2009 not allowed fly on united states territory , rerouted caribbean island of martinique. flight crew informed u.s. authorities did not allow, fly on u.s. airspace. no fly list maintained u.s. government not allow people on cross u.s. airspace.

in mexico city, calvo ospina allegedly detained briefly , questioned. proceeded nicaragua assignment. possible reason rerouting calvo ospina s journalism, sharply critical of u.s. foreign policy. according flight crew, rerouting without precedent air france.