Chile's President
Committed to Release of
Hostages Held by FARC
Chile's President
Michelle Bachelet on
Tuesday publicly
committed herself to
actively seeking the
release of Ingrid
Betancourt, held since
2002 by FARC, Colombia's
largest anti-government
rebel group.
After meeting Bachelet
on Tuesday, Betancourt's
husband Juan Carlos
Lecompte told media
that, "I explained to
her that we are at a
crucial moment and that
it is the time for her
to help us. She promised
us she would act in an
immediate, efficient
manner."
Bachelet was "warm and
very humane," Lecompte
added.
Lecompte, whose wife was
campaigning to be
Colombia's president at
the time of being
kidnapped, also
presented a plan to free
the hostages drafted by
Luis Eladio Perez, a
Colombian senator freed
last month after six
years in captivity.
Bachelet, who is Chile's
first woman president,
said the plan had
already received the
support of her Colombian
counterpart Alvaro Uribe.
Perez will soon present
the plan in person to
French President Nicolas
Sarkozy who is also
interested in the case
because Betancourt has
French citizenship as
well.
Lecompte also praised
Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez for his
intervention with FARC
(Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia),
which led to the release
of six hostages this
year.
Alberto Van Klaveren,
Chile's acting Foreign
Minister, was also
present at the meeting.
He reaffirmed that Chile
opposes the use of
kidnapping by FARC,
saying "it is a flagrant
violation of human
rights and a
reprehensible form of
torture," and called for
an unconditional release
of Betancourt and the
other hostages.
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