The husband of Ingrid Betancourt claimed that the recent raid by the Colombian military into Ecuador hampered any chances for her safe liberation from guerilla captors. The March 1st military attack which killed FARC commander Raul Reyes was a mistake since he was one of the main contacts for past and future hostage releases, according to comments made on Monday from Juan Carlos Lecompte:"If they hadn't killed him, she could have been freed," Juan Carlos Lecompte told reporters in Santiago, a day before meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
"Because on March 14 or 15, they would have freed 12 more hostages and my wife would have been among them," he added, without giving a source for the information.
Days after the attack, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said his government had been close to securing a deal with FARC to free 12 hostages, including Betancourt who has been in captivity for six years.
Lecompte was able to meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday; she vowed to “act in an immediate, efficient manner” for Betancourt’s liberation.
Betancourt has spent over six years in captivity in the Colombian jungle allegedly in terrible health.
Sources- Xinhua, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, People’s Daily Online
Image-BBC News (“Ingrid Betancourt before her kidnap (left) and several years later (right)”.)
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