http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/colombian-guerilla-group-eln-frees-canadian-geologist/article13980621/

Mr. Wober, vice-president of exploration for Canadian junior mining company Braeval Mining Corporation, was a bargaining chip in a long-standing battle over mining rights between Colombia’s leftist guerillas and its government. Now, his release could have implications for future peace in a country racked by 50 years of violent armed conflict, by opening the door to allow the ELN, Colombia’s second-largest guerrilla group, to the negotiating table.

The Canadian went from being a pawn in the conflict over resources to a possible lynchpin in negotiating peace with one of Latin America’s oldest rebel groups.

Since November, peace talks have been underway in Havana between Colombia’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and government negotiators. The ELN has expressed interest in holding parallel peace talks. But President Juan Manuel Santos repeatedly said the government would not start peace talks with the ELN while it still held Mr. Wober hostage.

Mr. Wober’s release however, “means this impasse will be overcome,” said Carlos Medina Gallego, an author of several books on the ELN and professor of security and defence at the National University of Colombia.

Mr. Wober was abducted Jan. 18 along with three Colombian and two Peruvian geologists in Norosi in a gold-rich region of northern Colombia. The ELN has been historically opposed to foreign exploitation of resources and was against Braeval’s mining project that was still in its exploration phase and not yet producing gold. The ELN released the South Americans a month later, but held on to Mr. Wober. In April, the militia offered Mr. Wober’s freedom in exchange for Braeval handing over the four mining titles that make up the company’s Snow Mine project to local miners.

Braeval announced in July it would abandon Snow Mine and the rebel group declared it would soon free Mr. Wober. But as his captivity dragged on, the Colombian government applied pressure on the rebel group by making peace negotiations conditional on Mr. Wober’s release. On Aug. 1, President Santos said a peace process with the ELN could start as soon as Mr. Wober was released.

The Canadian’s abduction, originally motivated by conflicts over mining, became “an impulse toward a peace process” said Leon Valencia, a former member of the ELN who is now a leading analyst on the armed conflict and director of the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation. “They [the ELN] were pressuring for demands over mining,” said Mr. Valencia, “and now the act of liberating [Mr. Wober] gives them an entry into negotiations.”

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The trip to Switzerland can be expensive if you don’t know the tricks on how to budget your money. Did you know that you can visit the country even on a budget? We got some tips you can use when you travel to Zurich or other parts of Switzerland.

Switzerland may not be as popular as Spain when it comes to travelers. However, it is one of the countries that boasts picturesque sceneries and amazing tourist spots. Some travelers may have been intimidated by the high prices in the country that’s why they delete it to their travel bucket list. Many travelers think they will never be able to afford a Swiss trip without blowing a huge amount of their savings or accumulate a crazy amount of debts.

No need to squander your whole life savings just to have a trip to Switzerland. We are here to give you some tips on how to enjoy your trip to the country.

Ways to travel Switzerland on a budget

You wouldn’t believe it at first but there are quite a few ways to go to the country without robbing a bank. No need to crawl up in a cardboard box because you may think you can’t afford a good accommodation. Trust us, you can sleep comfortably even if you’re on a budget.

• Using the free public transport

Riding a cab is convenient and a quicker way to get to the place you want to go to. However, this mode of transportation is one of the reasons that will deplete your travel funds. Take advantage of free public transport in particular cities. It will help in making your money last longer during your trip.

If you will be staying in Bern, Basel, Lucerne, Geneva, or Lausanne, a better way is to use the local public transport which you can avail for free. There are accommodations that provides travelers with a ticket that is valid for the time of the stay.

• Use a (free) bike

If you’re going to Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Zug, Zurich, or in the Canton of Valais, you can use an alternative transportation. Take advantage of the free bikes which you can use for a few hours or even longer. Other cities rent out bikes for a minimal fee. It is a cheaper transport and also a great exercise while exploring the streets. Don’t forget to bring 20 CHF for the deposit, as well as your ID.

• Try out free activities

You might think there is nothing is free in Switzerland because of the high cost of living. If you know where to look, you can surely find some things to do for free such as joining a free walking tour; visiting a free wildlife park in Zurich and other places; taking a stroll through botanical gardens and parks, or you can go hiking.

You can check the web for travel products, services, promotions or review of some activities to see if it’s offered entirely free or you have to pay a fee.

Switzerland may not be the usual place included on a travel bucket list. Would-be tourists from other nations think they will never be able to afford a Swiss trip. There are also people who even think that they might blow a huge amount of their savings or spend a crazy amount of debts just to afford a vacation to the country.

Travel cost

Seeking the services of a trusted travel agency may help you get an actual estimate for the Swiss trip. Some travel agencies can even give a promotion or discounted rate when you avail their services. Taking advantage of the airline ticket sales can also help in saving some money. The amount that can be saved from these options may be used as a travel fund.

The residents of another country must obtain a visa to enter Switzerland. However, the citizens of the States which are part of the Schengen area, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, North America, Singapore, and Japan do not require a visa. The countries in the European Union (EU), as well as the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), are also exempted to the visa requirement. Travelers have a 90-day limit to stay in the country.

Some foreigners may have hesitations when it comes to taking a trip to Switzerland. The high prices can be very overwhelming for many travelers. The prices on the local products are expensive compared to other nations.

Carspring conducted a review on the cost of the country’s taxi transportation through a survey. The taxis in Zurich are the most expensive in the world. It is at an average of 5.19 US dollars per kilometer. For vacationers, riding a taxi may not be the best money-saving option to go around Zurich and other tourist spots.

Swiss trip

Some tourists include Switzerland to their list of ideal places to travel. It may not be as grand as Paris or historical as Japan. However, the country boast many astonishing places that many travelers would enjoy visiting.

Traveling is one of the best type of leisure in the world. Not only do people get to see a lot of sights and sceneries, they also have a chance to meet and mingle with a lot of people. Even though Switzerland may not be as popular as Spain, it still has many picturesque sceneries and marvelous tourist spots that are worth visiting.

Going around

For travelers who are about to embark on a journey to Switzerland, investing in a Swiss travel pass makes it easy to get around the place. The country has an impeccable transit system including trains, boats, and cable cars. Traveling between cities will be less of a hassle using the Swiss travel pass.

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