Outside the Elysée Palace, before presenting the petition.The petition in support for Ingrid Betancourt and the hostages held in Colombia and which now counts close to 600,000 signatures, was formally presented to French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Monday the 1st of April. The Support Committee’s delegation was received by President Sarkozy for a half hour meeting. The above photo was taken ouside the Elysée Palace.
Later that afternoon, Mr. Sarkozy made a formal televised address where he spoke directly to the FARC, calling for Ingrid’s release and stating that France and the International community are determined to do all they can to save her.
Ingrid’s son Lorenzo, has made an appeal for the world’s governments to rally together in order to save his mother and for citizens to make their voice heard by marching massively, in support of Ingrid and the other hostages, in marches across France on Sunday the 6th of April 2008.
Here is a translation of the Support Committee's appeal to the world's leaders:
Your Excellencies, Presidents and Heads of State of the World’s nations,
These are sad days.
We are witnessing Ingrid Betancourt's death.
Ingrid, with all the confidence she has placed in all of us, is fighting her last battle - Ingrid is dying, all be it in a heroic manner.
We are witnessing Ingrid Betancourt's death.
Ingrid, with all the confidence she has placed in all of us, is fighting her last battle - Ingrid is dying, all be it in a heroic manner.
Her testimony "...here life is not life..." describes poignantly the barbaric conditions under which she has been held now for 6 years one month and ten days [as on 02/04/2008]. In spite of this, it is from such conditions that she has sent us a strong message of thanks "...I want you to know that all you have accomplished for us has made a difference. We have felt like human beings. Thank you."
This is a sad day because she is still held by her gaolers and we know her to be in extremely bad health.
We know that a huge degree of solidarity exists all around the world, with an important international and political mobilisation.
Your Excellencies, it is with all due respect that we address you our encouragement and hopes in any possible initiatives that would convince President URIBE of Colombia and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) to do all in their power which would result in Ingrid Betancourt’s liberation.
Alas, their past actions have proven that the hostages’ liberation does not count amongst their priorities. Only your strength of conviction, and those of other world leaders, can hope to bring them to reason.
Today, and before it is too late, we have decided to launch an international appeal – a cry for help – to all the world’s heads of state. A call for a united and international mobilisation, side by side, for a happy outcome to this struggle which we share with Ingrid. A struggle which we do not count on losing and in which the human values of respect, dignity and life must overcome that which is unacceptable.
The FARC must realise that Ingrid’s demise at their hands would do them irreparable and permanent damage. We also realise, that if Ingrid were to die, President URIBE would be condemned to spend the rest of his mandate attempting to justify her death to the international community.
No conflict, no war, nothing justifies such intransigence in regards to hostages.
If Ingrid dies, the entire world shall understand that they consciously let her die.
Your Excellencies – it is with confidence that we entrust Ingrid Betancourt’s life in your hands.
Link to my Save Ingrid flickr sets:
Photo: H de C
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