(Two Items)
(1)
By: Haroon Siddique and Agencies
The Guardian (UK)
July 4, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/betancourt.france
Ingrid Betancourt arrived in France today after
being held captive for six years in the Colombian
jungle, amid claims that a ransom was paid to free
her.
The Colombian government said that she was freed in
an audacious operation after the military tricked
Farc into handing the French-Colombian politician
over without a shot being fired.
But quoting "reliable sources", Swiss Radio
reported that a ransom was paid of around $20m
(£10m).
It said that the US, which had three citizens among
those freed, was behind the deal and that "the
whole operation afterwards was a set-up."
The station reported that the wife of one of the
hostages' guards was the go-between, having been
arrested by the Colombian army.
If proved true, the allegations would be hugely
embarrassing for the Colombian government which was
showered with praise for the efficiency of the
operation. Many commentators had predicted that it
would even spell the end of Farc as a credible
force.
President Nicolas Sarkozy met Betancourt at the
Villacoublay military air base south of Paris.
The hero's welcome for the 46-year-old, who has
held by the Farc, is being shown live on French
television.
The government is to throw a party in the
presidential Palace in her honour later this
evening.
Addressing journalists after landing she said: "I
am amazed that I am standing here alive. I have
cried a lot. Today they are tears of joy. Before,
they were tears of pain."
Betancourt was kidnapped by Farc rebels during her
election campaign in 2002. She was freed on
Wednesday with 14 others. The rebels were tricked
into handing them over in a Colombian covert
military operation.
Next week, Betancourt is expected to be received by
the Pope. She is a devout Catholic and made wooden
rosary beads to pray with in the jungle.
At a press conference in Bogata upon her release,
Betancourt urged Farc to release the rest of its
prisoners - it has about 700 captives, including 40
high-profile hostages - and embark on a peace
process. She has vowed to work for the freedom of
all hostages.
"I hope that the Farc understands that this is the
time to release all its hostages and use this
release, this act, not only to improve its now
tarnished image, but especially for us here in
Colombia, to try to make this first step towards a
negotiated peace."
(2)
FARC leaders were paid millions to free hostages: Swiss
radio
Thomson Financial News
July 4, 2008
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/04/afx5184293.html
PARIS
Leaders of the Colombian FARC rebel movement were paid
millions of dollars to free Colombian politician Ingrid
Betancourt and 14 other hostages, Swiss radio said on
Friday, quoting 'a reliable source'.
The 15 hostages released on Wednesday by the Colombian
army 'were in reality ransomed for a high price, and
the whole operation afterwards was a set-up,' the
radio's French-language channel said.
Saying the United States, which had three of its
citizens among those freed, was behind the deal, it put
the price of the ransom at some $20 million.
The radio said its source was 'close to the events,
reliable and tested many times in recent years.'
The report added said the wife of one of the hostages'
guards was the go-between, having been arrested by the
Colombian army. She was released to return to the
guerrillas, where she persuaded her husband to change
sides.
Switzerland, along with France and Spain, has been
mediating with the FARC on behalf of Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe.
According to the official version of Wednesday's
operation, a Colombian army intelligence agent
infiltrated the FARC and tricked the rebels into
believing their top leader had sent a helicopter to
pick up the hostages.
Colombian soldiers posing as FARC guerrillas flew the
hostages from a jungle hideout where they had been
assembled before revealing their identity.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the rescue
'was conceived by the Colombians and executed by the
Colombians with our full support,' while implying that
Washington had provided intelligence and even
operational help.
U.S. ambassador to Bogota William Brownfield also told
CNN that Washington had provided 'technical support,'
while Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos
insisted it was a '100 percent Colombian' effort.
The top U.S. military officer for Latin America,
Admiral Jim Stavridis, head of United States Southern
Command, said the rescue of Americans Thomas Howes,
Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell had been 'a priority
of this command'.
The three were seized by the rebels as they conducted
an anti-drug mission for the Pentagon in February 2003.
The operation enhanced Uribe's prestige as he seeks a
third term in office, and enabled him to stick to his
line of no talks with the rebels without the hostages
being freed, the radio noted.
tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomsonreuters.com
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008.
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