Wires from the front line: Colombia (Farc)

Guillermo Galdos could not tell people in London his exact location

"The leaders of Farc are taking our security very seriously. I am playing it by their rules."

Transcripts of telephone conversations, text messages and
e-mails between Guillermo Galdos in Colombia and Will Daws, series producer in London, record Guillermo's time with the Farc.

Some of the names of the locations in this log have not been revealed in order to protect those involved in this mission.

All times GMT

Wednesday 10 March

1325
I'm in Bogota and am fine. I'll probably stay here until Saturday or Sunday.

Tomorrow should have a meeting with a contact and should have a clearer idea of location.

Weather not bad. Cloudy.

Monday 15 March

1426
I've been advised not to use the sat phone so will send emails rather then talk on phone.

I won't go anywhere till Thursday but I will let you know. I will be able to call and say I'm ok but I won't be able to tell you the location. Situation is tense here with Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) leaders arrested.

Wednesday 17 March

1552
Waiting for a call and I could leave today or tomorrow. Still don't know the location. 150 dead yesterday on both sides (Farc and army). Very moderate with numbers, could be double.

They are being very careful. I met some people yesterday and said I don't want to go into the wolf's mouth. As soon as I know I'll ring you.

The commercial flight is inside the country and then we'll charter a small plane to another remote location where no commercial flights go. Then boat.

They told me they'll have a location for me by tonight.

Thursday 18 March

1600
Will go tomorrow and it's fairly close to Bogota (six-hour drive away). I'll rent a car and drive. Yesterday had a late meeting and they are worried about my security.

Eliana Gonzales Acosta Read more about Eliana's one day of war

There was combat and many dead two days ago. Combat continued today in most places. I decided a place where I know it's secure.

Need to avoid security around the area. On the boat I'll be with two Farc reps who will take me to a base where I'll stay for three or four days. We'll be there late Friday, spend the night and move every night by foot.

But... my concern is security. They said the less time you spend there the better and I said I need to be there Saturday, Sunday and Monday and then leave. They are being pursued. The leaders of Farc are taking our security very seriously. I am playing it by their rules.

The biggest concern is getting out.

Is it safe to drive at night? Yes. The area is controlled by Farc and the road up there is safe. After four hours we pick up a Farc couple who are there for the last two hours of the drive.

I have a meeting at 1530 local time to finalise the plans.

2300
There was a shoot-out on Thursday at a roadblock just outside Bogota. Three Farc members in a car were killed. One of them was one of two men who had met me the day before to help set up my filming. Freaked me out.

I sent an email yesterday to another Farc representative to see if filming was still possible. As an alternative I also sent an email to a female commander in the other rebel group, ELN.

Friday 19 March

Itinerary:

Flying to xxxx.

Flying in an hour and a half.

From xxxx. I'll cross into Colombia. Cross the border on a boat. It's a tiny river. It's a place where people cross over everyday. Not an official crossing.

Farc will wait for me.

Character: ideally a woman. I'm meeting the top guy who knows I want a woman.

I'm feeling alright. Very confident.

If I get stopped by the other side, it's a film about displaced people.

Getting out: probably the same way but I'll cross the river in a different place.

I'll fly to xxxx when I have a ticket on Tuesday afternoon.

Monday 22 March

1920
In Ecuador. Everything went well. My character is a 50-year-old woman, Eliana Gonzales Acosta. She's the oldest woman fighting for Farc. She's been fighting for 30 years.

The day started with her making camp; then patrolling, talking on walkie-talkies, having lunch then putting on her glasses.

With her gun round her shoulder, she teaches the younger rebels the history of Farc. She then reads Simon Bolivar.

My speedboat on the way out capsized when it hit a log. I lost the tripod but the tapes are ok. I should be back in Bogota tomorrow afternoon.

Guillermo Galdos was accompanied by Hollman Morris

One Day of War was broadcast in the UK on Thursday, 27 May, 2004 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.