Americas News
Betancourt arrives in France as questions arise about her rescue
Jul 4, 2008, 14:51 GMT
Colombian-French former presidencial candidate Ingrid Betancourt (R), next to her daughter, Melanie Delloye (L), talks in a press conference at the France Ambassade in Bogota, Colombia on 03 July 2008. EPA/GUILLERMO LEGARIA
Paris - Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt arrived in Paris on Friday as questions arose about the official story regarding her liberation.
The French online news daily MediaPart on Friday contradicted the account put forward by the Colombian government, that its agents had infiltrated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and freed Betancourt and 14 other hostages through a clever ploy.
MediaPart reported that it had learned that the hostages had actually been freed through an agreement between Bogota and the FARC, in exchange for political asylum for FARC members in France and the payment of a ransom.
In addition, Swiss radio station Radio Suisse Romande (RSR), citing sources close to the events, reported that Colombian and US authorities had paid 20 million dollars to the FARC guerrillas guarding Betancourt and the other hostages to obtain their freedom.
A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry on Friday denied that Paris had paid a ransom to obtain Betancourt's release.
'The answer is no,' Eric Chevallier said, adding that France had not been informed about the military action that presumably led to Betancourt's liberation.
After arriving at at Villacoublay military airport outside Paris and being greeted by President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla, the 46-year-old Beancourt described her rescue, saying that the Colombian agents who rescued her after she had spent more than 6 years in captivity were not armed.
'There was not a single shot fired,' she said.
She said that she owed her life to the French insistence that Colombia undertake no armed military operation to rescue the hostages.
'This extraordinary, immaculate operation was also the product of your struggle,' she said. 'France was opposed to any operation that threatened the lives of the hostages, and my life.'
'We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,' a delighted Sarkozy told Betancourt after her arrival. 'All of France is happy that you are here. All of France admires your dignity.'
Betancourt replied by saying, 'I have dreamed for seven years to experience this moment.' Then addressing both Sarkozy and the French people, who had turned her plight into a national cause, she said, 'I owe you everything.'
Betancourt was partly raised in France and has French citizenship through her first marriage. She was accompanied on the flight to Paris by her three children, her sister, her ex-husband Fabrice Delloye and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
At the conclusion of her statement she broke into tears, and said, 'I cried out of grief for seven years. Today I am crying tears of joy.'
Later Friday Betancourt will attend a ceremony at the Elysee Palace with her family and the members of members of the French Betancourt support committee.
She will then go into seclusion for some time to be with her family, before meeting Pope Benedict XVI next week. She has also been invited to attend the French national holiday celebrations on July 14.
COMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
THis story sgould be easy to verify .The offiial story talks about the capture of a guerilla commander and a few others during the same operation.If that is verified the story about a ransom is highly unlikely.
This bogus military rescue operation reminds me of the one filmed of an American rescue operation in Iraq several years back to 'rescue' a than 19-year-old US female soldier who was being 'held hostage' in an Iraqi hospital.
A British news crew who was also in the area did their own filming and soon realized that the young female soldier was being cared for by Iraqi hospital personnel and that their were no armed Iraqis around so their was no 'hostage' situation.
The American military film crew, however, filmed the same scenario as if it were a Bollywood movie complete with commandos and everything.
The reality is even with American trainers and used, hand-me-down weapons from America the Ciolombian military isn't that well-trained or disciplined so most likely it is very unlikely that it was a 'military' operation by the Colombian right-wing regime's military.
A pay-off seems more plausible to be the case.
Remember:
'Freedom Of The Press' means the press has the freedom to accept payments for a story from anyone for no matter what purpose. Even propagandists have the right to pay for a story.
SP4: I knew itJul 5th, 2008 - 08:24:56
sp4 - you're not SP4, I am
This bogus military rescue operation reminds me of the one filmed of an American rescue operation in Iraq several years back to 'rescue' a than 19-year-old US female soldier who was being 'held hostage' in an Iraqi hospital.
sp4 - I would not give a crap about this.
A British news crew who was also in the area did their own filming and soon realized that the young female soldier was being cared for by Iraqi hospital personnel and that their were no armed Iraqis around so their was no 'hostage' situation.
sp4 - still would not care.
The American military film crew, however, filmed the same scenario as if it were a Bollywood movie complete with commandos and everything.
sp4 - who else cares?
The reality is even with American trainers and used, hand-me-down weapons from America the Ciolombian military isn't that well-trained or disciplined so most likely it is very unlikely that it was a 'military' operation by the Colombian right-wing regime's military.
sp4 - next: Jimmy Hoffas grave
A pay-off seems more plausible to be the case.
sp4 - actually, according to docs and files seen by the Wall Street Journal, it is possible, the rebels have ongoing help from so-called 'human rights' groups who are really arms of the FARC and FARC thought these, or certain friendly elements in the government, were loaning choppers to them to move the hostages. This would have to be the case, because FARC does not have it's own airforce, and would HAVE to trust who ever came out of the choppers, in order for this to be true.
Chavez figures in this, as he was trying to arrange a trade, leaving FARC in a better position with numerous releases while leaving himself in the position of strengthening his rebels and being lauded by the international community.
to mr. not-so-SP4:Get your own handle.
page: 1
JennyJul 4th, 2008 - 15:27:57
very ironic that she says this
''There was not a single shot fired,' she said.
She said that she owed her life to the French insistence that Colombia undertake no armed military operation to rescue the hostages. '
Just the other day in Paris, there was a military display to show off
france's mad skills regarding rescuing hostages. 17 people were shot before someone realized they were using real bullets instead of blanks.
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