French President Ncolas Sarkozy's Televised message to the FARC
In French with Spanish subtitles, with a translation in English below:
"I am addressing this new message to Manuel Marulanda and to the commandants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [FARC].
The latest information that we have received concerning Ingrid Betancourt and the testimonies given by ex-hostages are deeply worrying. They confirm that Ingrid’s state of health has worsened so considerably that her life is now in danger – Ingrid is in danger of imminent death.
She no longer has the strength to resist an interminable captivity which is deepening into tragedy.
In light of this situation Mr. Marulanda, you must comprehend France’s expectations and those of the international community.
We have noted that the liberation [of hostages] which took place at the beginning of the year have rekindled hope, they have shown that it is possible to de-block the situation. The most must now be made from this dynamism.
I am now waiting for a sign of humanity from yourself, without which everything shall silt-up once again.
As all we now need is one decision on your behalf, to save a woman from death and to keep hope for all those who remain prisoner.
Make this decision!
Release Ingrid Betancourt!
Through this triggering act, you shall be answering the families’ unbearable hiatus, and the collective cry of the international community.
You shall render your discourse comprehensible.
You shall at last be choosing the paths for the future.
You will be opening future horizons for peace.
So, you who are leading the FARC, you now have a meeting with history.
Do not miss it!
Free Ingrid Betancourt and those hostages that are weakest!
France is and shall remain mobilised for a humanitarian accord.
Do not allow the occasion, which is now presenting itself, to be lost. This would be a serious political error as well as a humanitarian tragedy.
It would be a crime.
You would be responsible for the death of a woman.
France is awaiting a signal from your part to organise immediately, with the relevant authorities, a humanitarian mission in order to organise the taking charge of Ingrid and her fellow hostages who are in the worst state of health.
We haven’t the right to sit and do nothing.
It is now, and right away.
The life of a woman depends on it, each one is now placed in front of his responsibilities.
You have yours.
Assume them."
A Reuters news article (03/04/2008) on the mission sent to Colombia by French President Nicolas Sarkozy:
Hostage mission heads for Colombia jungle
France has sent a humanitarian mission including a doctor to try and make contact with hostage Ingrid Betancourt in the Colombian jungle, the president's office said on Wednesday.
The operation is shrouded in mystery with no indication of whether FARC guerrillas holding Betancourt, who is believed to be very ill, have given it their blessing or whether a French team is already in the region."
A humanitarian mission by the three facilitating countries, Spain, France and Switzerland, has begun, in cooperation with the authorities concerned," President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said in a statement. It did not elaborate.Sarkozy made a direct televised appeal on Tuesday to the Marxist FARC to release Betancourt who was "in danger of imminent death", he said.
Betancourt, 46, is a former Colombian presidential candidate and has been held hostage for six years. She has dual French-Colombian nationality.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he hoped the mission could reach her quickly."Everything that we could have humanly done, we have done. Now we have to wait until our special envoys, the doctor, get to the area," Kouchner told reporters after a cabinet meeting "We are expecting a lot from this."
Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told local radio the Colombian government was complying with a request by Sarkozy that it suspend military operations against the FARC.
"The Colombian government has given all the necessary security guarantees," Restrepo said. "We just need to pinpoint the area where we need to suspend military operations."
LAST APPEALFrench media said a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) would take part in the mission and there was speculation the team might bring Betancourt to freedom. The French government refused to give further details.
Barbara Hintermann, director of the ICRC in Colombia, said the medical mission was a French initiative that would not involve the Red Cross until the FARC asked it to participate.
"We have had no contact with the FARC about this initiative," she told reporters in Bogota.
Betancourt's son, Lorenzo Delloye Betancourt, said his mother was extremely ill and urged FARC to let her go.
"Either you release mother and the other ill hostages or you will bury her in the coming hours," he told a news conference in Paris. "This will be my last appeal. We have reached the end."
According to a support committee spokesman, Betancourt is believed to have begun a hunger strike on Feb. 23. Her son said she had hepatitis B and an infection called leishmaniasis, which meant she needed an immediate blood transfusion.
Attempts to secure a deal to free the various FARC hostages, who also include three Americans, are deadlocked over a rebel demand that Bogota demilitarise an area in the south of Colombia for a safe haven to facilitate talks.
By Sophie Louet
(Additional reporting by the Bogota bureau; writing by Crispian Balmer and Francois Murphy; Editing by Robert Woodward)
This blog is in support of Ingrid Betancourt & all the hostages held in Colombia. Ingrid is a 46yo woman & politician who has been held for over 6 years by the FARC in the Colombian jungle. She is very ill with recurring hepatitis B & undoubtedly has just a limited number of weeks left to live if she is not treated and freed. Ingrid needs OUR help, she needs YOUR help. Please look through this blog - a good place to start is the first introductory post. Thank you, together we can make a difference….
Counting the days Ingrid has been held hostage:
Next gatherings / Los próximos encuentros / Prochains rassemblements :
Just an ordinary guy trying to make a difference....
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or suggestions, want to organise gatherings in support of Ingrid etc.
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