Released Colombian hostage flees to Miami following threats

Jul 10, 2008, 17:24 GMT

Miami/Bogota - Former Colombian legislator Luis Eladio Perez - a hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for close to seven years - has fled his country for Miami, following death threats.

Perez, very close to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt over their kidnapping by FARC, was released by the rebels in late February.

In an interview which the Miami daily El Nuevo Herald published Thursday, Perez explained that he testified Monday in Bogota against two members of FARC who were involved in his kidnapping, from June 2001 until he was released by FARC on February 28.

'As I arrived at the public prosecutor's office, I received a call that told me, 'watch out for what you are going to say, great SOB, otherwise we will kill you,'' Perez told the daily.

He said he testified nonetheless, and then received another call at home, warning that he would 'regret everything.'

Perez, 55, arrived in Miami Wednesday, accompanied by his wife.

Also Wednesday, the Argentine daily Clarin published an interview with Betancourt, who said she was 'very worried' about her friend.

'He is a person who, since he was released, has devoted his efforts to fighting for all the rebels,' she said. 'He is afraid that, willing to take revenge against someone, they pick him as a goal.'

However, Colombian authorities said Wednesday that Perez never requested special protection.

'(The threats are) very regrettable. But we are willing to give security to him and to anyone else in a similar situation. I am sorry he had to leave, I did not know he had made that decision,' said Colombian Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia.

Perez testified against two rebels, known with the alias of 'Cesar' and 'Gafas' arrested in the operation that led to the rescue of Betancourt and 14 others. He called for exemplary sentences against them, and asked that they serve time in Colombia before being extradited to the United States.

Perez said he heard that FARC thinks he was directly involved in the operation that led to Betancourt's rescue, but he denied any involvement.

'I would not have helped a military rescue, given the immense risk that (the hostages) die. I would not have helped even if they had given me a 99-per-cent chance that they could come out alive,' Perez said.