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Saturday, September 06, 2008

SPECIAL COVERAGE

Ingrid Betancourt

Often referred to as the Colombian Joan of Arc by the press, the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt has been held captive by a Marxist rebel group, the FARC, since 2002.

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Kidnapped in 2002, Colombian-French politician Ingrid Betancourt has been held captive in secret jungle camps run by the Colombian rebel group FARC. Very little information concerning Betancourt has emerged since her abduction, but video footage seized Nov. 29, 2007 has raised hopes she may still be alive.
 
Betancourt is part of a group of more than 40 hostages - including three US nationals - that the FARC wants to exchange for 500 rebels being held in Colombian jails.
 
On Jan. 10, 2008, two female hostages, Clara Rojas, a former Betancourt aide, and ex-Colombian legislator Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo were released following negotiations between FARC leaders and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
 
Betancourt however remains in captivity. 
  
While campaigning for the presidential elections in 2002, she attempted to enter the demilitarized zone bordering on FARC territory. The fiery Green-Oxygen Party candidate – who is also the daughter of a former Miss Colombia - travelled through the jungle, without an escort, and was kidnapped at a FARC roadblock. An active campaign for her release has pushed the fate of Colombian hostages up the political agenda both in France and Colombia.
 
The Marxist group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) is branded as a terrorist organisation by the US, which accuses the organisation of using drug-trafficking and other criminal activities to fund its activities. The FARC maintains it is striving to defend the rural poor against the Colombian government and wealthy elites.
 
 

Video footage shows Ingrid Betancourt alive COLOMBIA
Footage seized from FARC rebels shows Ingrid Betancourt thin, drawn, but alive.

F24 exclusive interview with Hugo Chavez Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke to FRANCE 24's Pascale Mariani and Roméo Langlois about his negotiations with FARC leaders on the release of hostages.

Ingrid Betancourt: A Profile SPECIAL COVERAGE
Ingrid Betancourt: the "Colombian Joan of Arc".

Hostages arrive in Caracas COLOMBIA - VENEZUELA
Freed by Colombian FARC rebels, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez have landed in Venezuela's capital Caracas where they have been reunited with their families.

Images

Map of FARC area and the DMZ

Map of FARC area and the DMZ

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