Politicians on the campaign trail love to talk about their personal stories and they often mention their kids as well. It can be pretty routine stuff, unless you happen to be Clara Rojas, a candidate for Congress in Colombia's elections next month.
Rojas, a lawyer, was a central figure in one of the most dramatic episodes of Colombia's long guerrilla war. In 2002, she was managing the presidential campaign of Ingrid Betancourt when both women were kidnapped by Marxist rebels.
Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen, made headlines when she was rescued in an army raid in 2008, after six years in captivity. But Rojas, who is now jumping back into Colombian politics, has an even more remarkable tale.
When the FARC rebels kidnapped Rojas, she was 38 and feared she would be held hostage for years and lose the chance to become a mother. So, Rojas started a consensual relationship with one of her rebel guards and became pregnant.
It was a controversial decision. Some fellow hostages in jungle prison camps accused Rojas of sleeping with the enemy. She had no access to decent medical care. Her son was delivered via Caesarian section performed by rebels who sterilized their scalpels over a candle. Rojas lost so much blood she nearly died.
"Today, when I look back on that episode, I'm amazed that I had the strength to go through it all," Rojas said.
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