Husband looks for hostage wife in Colombia

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/09/colombia.hostage.ap/i...

Husband looks for hostage wife in Colombia

Story Highlights
Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped in 2002 while campaigning for Colombia's presidency

She is a citizen of both France and Colombia

Betancourt believed to be suffering from liver problems and depression

French Foreign Minister: France will not abandon efforts to free Betancourt

SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE, Colombia (AP) -- The husband of hostage Ingrid Betancourt vowed Wednesday to plunge off into jungle villages to hunt for clues to her situation following the failure of government-backed effort to aid her.

"I want to talk to the people ... to see if she is alive or not, what her state of health is," Juan Carlos Lecompte said after he landed in San Jose del Guaviare, a steamy provincial capital in eastern Colombia.

Lecompte told reporters he would drive to outlying villages to seek information. He said he had come to learn about her situation, but has not had any contact with the leftist rebels holding her.

There have been unconfirmed sightings of Betancourt in the area, where the rebels, far-right death squads and cocaine producers are common.

A citizen of both France and Colombia, Betancourt was campaigning for Colombia's presidency when she was kidnapped in 2002.

Former hostages who spent time with Betancourt say they believe she has hepatitis B and suffers from depression.

"Her physical condition is extremely weak and it's true that she suffers from liver problems. But we don't know if she has hepatitis," said her ex-husband, Fabrice Delloye, to Associated Press Television News in Paris, France, on Wednesday.

Chances of a quick release seemed remote after leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, rejected a request by France, Switzerland and Spain to treat and possibly rescue her.

In a statement posted on the Internet on Tuesday, the FARC said it would not unilaterally release hostages and would only exchange Betancourt and other captives for rebels imprisoned in Colombia and the U.S.

The FARC also insists that President Alvaro Uribe demilitarize jungle zones in southwestern Colombia where the two sides could hold talks and eventually swap prisoners for hostages. Uribe has been equally insistent that he will not do so.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Paris will not abandon efforts to free Betancourt and that he planned to travel to the region soon.

The French government jet carrying the delegation that tried to meet with Betancourt remained on an airport tarmac in Bogota, Columbia, on Wednesday. The delegation was planning to return to France shortly.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By sloopskipper on Apr 9, 2008, 19:02 in Politics & the war.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Apr 10, 2008, 02:11:

"Lecompte told reporters he would drive to outlying villages to seek information. He said he had come to learn about her situation, but has not had any contact with the leftist rebels holding her.

committing another stupidity just like his wife did... Now he will get kidnapped and is all Uribe's fault

engage brain before opening mouth

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ietk says on Apr 10, 2008, 06:09:

There we go another moron going into the lion's den that is what happened to his wife in the first place, He is going to look for trouble if He does not get killed by Guerrillas or anyone else for that matter He could also end up as a hostage, what a way of thinking, I am sick of Ingrid B. here, there and everywhere is not that I do not like Her or I do not want to see Her free but what makes me sick is that She is not the only hostage in Colombia there are hundreds more if not thousands and the whole "secuestrados" situation revolves around Her and in my book that is just not right.

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 09:54:

True. I don't have any ill will towards the lady and I do hope she will liberated soon. Still, it is more than a little sickening that the most of the focus and effort have been directed at freeing a rich politician while practically ignoring the hundreds of campesinos, soldiers, policemen and other average Colombians being held for sometimes much longer. There was even some insane suggestions of trading 500 guerrillas for just this one rich politician, who is in this situation partially because of her own unchecked political ambition.

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sloopskipper says on Apr 10, 2008, 10:31:

But sadly, it is a fact of life. If “Brangelina", Shakira, and any of us had some significant event (good or bad), who do you think would get the attention?

It is the news of the rich and famous (and the public's insatiable interest) which attracts readers and viewers of the global main-stream media, resulting in higher ratings, and therefore greater advertising revenues.

I don’t understand why people here display such animosity against this poor soul (however unwise her past actions may appear now), and her desperate family. I think their attempts to generate publicity are simply to attract attention to this situation, and of course their family member is most important to them.

And if people tire of reading news about this, the headers usually clearly indicate the content of the post and there is always the option to simply to move on to the next post.

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 11:26:

Sloop, I'm certainly not chastising you or complaining about your post. Just like the media and many involved parties care more about Ingrid and want to draw attention to her plight, I care more about the "little people" caught up in this mess through no fault of their own or because they were pawns in a bigger game. I don't hold any animosity towards Ingrid, but I do despise the fact that Sarkozy and many others involved in this only seem to care about her. That is hardly her fault.

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sloopskipper says on Apr 10, 2008, 12:12:

CG, I totally understand, I was just venting, and did not mean to dump on you. That was mostly about other posts, ie: "I Hate Ingrid", or "I would piss/spit on her grave".

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 12:15:

I hear you. Anyone that says some outlandish nonsense like that is an asshole. She certainly doesn't deserve what happened to her. I feel for her and her family and hope all the hostages are released quickly.

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sloopskipper says on Apr 10, 2008, 17:26:

Yes, I don't know enough about the history to judge her motives for entering that area. But I wonder how brave some of these smart-asses would be in her shoes, or those of her husband or son.

Although, I am sure most all hope for relief for all the captives.

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Lisa Zee says on Apr 10, 2008, 17:38:

The media made her a target, the last thing she wants is tha attention, if they did not show so much interest in her from the beginning, she would be freed long time ago. I am sure if by some luck they find her with others, they will free as many as possible.

Yes SLOOPSKIPPER: how many of us would have survived this horrible torturous years, Los FARC, make the Nazis look merciful

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Lisa Zee says on Apr 10, 2008, 17:44:

I hope the husband is armed, and has some man power. This should be a clandestine operation. I feel horrible for anyone out there.

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sloopskipper says on Apr 10, 2008, 18:29:

Yes, Lisa, but what hope would he have, unless he has The French Legion with him?

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Lisa Zee says on Apr 10, 2008, 18:35:

LOL, hope is all he has, I am surprised is taking him so long, if it was my son or husband I would do whatever it takes, siting at home does not do anything, I know it is crazy, but let`s see. I know a big $reward$ would work.

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sloopskipper says on Apr 10, 2008, 19:21:

Of course, I would have done ANYTHING for my wife!

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Lisa Zee says on Apr 10, 2008, 22:43:

I sense a joke here.

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goin_south says on Apr 10, 2008, 22:47:

Lisa, you should have used that line, after some of those UTC posts ;-)
It's a good thing... developing the cents of humor

..... leavin louisiana in the broad day light

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