{news} Fw: USGP-INT Fwd: Ingrid Betancourt

[Justine McCabe]

Information about Columbian Green Party presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt who, with her running mate Clara Roja, was kidnapped by FARC during the campaign in 2002.
Justine  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Rensenbrink 
To: USGP International Committee 
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 8:34 PM
Subject: USGP-INT Fwd: Ingrid Betancourt


Hi all,


Have you seen this?


John Rensenbrink



Begin forwarded message:


  From: "Jon Olsen" <joliyoka at gwi.net>
  Date: November 26, 2007 7:11:13 PM EST
  To: "John Rensenbrink" <rensen at gwi.net>
  Subject: Ingrid Betancourt


  John,  I suspect you have been trying to keep up withthis case, as have I. Here is the most recent post indicating she is alive. It sounds credible. Jon

  By  AFP



  BOGOTA, July 4, 2007 (AFP) - In the video taped in October, soldier William Dominguez said he had seen the former Colombian presidential candidate alive along with her election running mate, Clara Roja, who was kidnapped with Betancourt in February 2002 by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
     
  Dominguez indicated he saw the two politicians as well Roja's son -- Emmanuel, who was born three years ago to a rebel father -- after being taken to a new guerrilla camp.
     
  "I ended up in a camp where there are more prisoners of war and there are even a few politicians held such as doctor Ingrid, Mrs. Clara and a child who follows them all the time," the soldier said.
     
  Dominguez, in the video delivered to Radio France International (RFI) and Al-Jazeera correspondent Holman Morris, said he was unable to speak with the women.
     
  "Although they don't let us get too close, I would like to be able to speak to them one day," he said. "But that's impossible because they keep us far away."
     
  The soldier also described being surprised to see guerrillas giving several toys to Roja's son.
     
  "I had the opportunity to go on two walks with them. When she is tired of carrying the boy, a guerrilla kindly offers to help her," the soldier said. "He (the boy) likes that because he loves playing horsy."
     
  Dominguez said in the video that the hostages are moved to different camps on an almost daily basis due to bombing attacks by the Colombian military.
     
  The last proof of life from 45-year-old Betancourt was in August 2003, when she was seen on a video released by FARC.
     
  Dominguez was among seven soldiers and police officers shown on the new video, most of whom have been held hostage for about nine years, Morris said.
     
  The proof of life came five days after FARC claimed that 11 lawmakers it had held hostage for five years died in the crossfire during a military raid on a guerrilla camp last month.
     
  The government denies the military attacked the camp and accuses the guerrillas of executing the 11 provincial lawmakers.
     
  The lawmakers were among 56 hostages, including Betancourt and three Americans, who the rebels want to swap for FARC members held in Colombian prisons.






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