Death threats force ex-hostage into exile

A former hostage who was held by guerilla captors in Colombia for nearly seven years fled into exile earlier today. Since being freed by the FARC in February, Luis Eladio Perez had campaigned hard for the liberation of hundreds of other captives and even attempted to meet with world leaders like U.S. President George W. Bush. Yet the death threats grew in the days after last Wednesday's mission which freed fifteen hostages:

“(The threats) are related to comments I made recently about those two (guerillas captured during the mission) but also based on my experience related to the FARC. I have been absolutely clear on how I lived,” said the ex-senator. – [ed. personal translation]

An interview given to the Colombian press shortly before he boarded his flight, Perez vowed to continue working hard for the freedom of all those held in captivity. Earlier this week, Perez told CNN that the hostages at times argued with each other and he blasted his guerilla captors for “treating people like animals.”

Image- BBC News (Image of Luis Eladio Perez during his time as a hostage)

Sources (English)- CNN, The Latin Americanist, Reuters Africa

Sources (Spanish)- Caracol Radio, El Tiempo

Ingrid Betancourt – the movie?

The tale of recently freed Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt could soon be shown on the silver screen according to AFP. The report cites Colombia’s RCN who claimed that a film based on her rescue along with 14 other hostages will be produced "jointly by a Hollywood production company and under RCN-Cine supervision." (Perhaps Meryl Streep could play Betancourt while her eldest son Lorenzo can be played by Zac Efron?)

What about other forms of entertainment? Over the weekend Betancourt admitted that she has plans to write a play based on her time in captivity. In remarks made to Le Journal du Dimanche:

"I shall return to Colombia in a few days. Meanwhile I want to see France, all of France. But I also want to be alone with my children ... I want to give this time to my family, to the father of my children whom I adore, who fought an extraordinary fight for me."

Asked whether she would write a book about her experience, she replied: "I'll write a play."

In other developments:

• Colombia’s government denied reports from Switzerland that a $20 million ransom had been secretly paid to guerilla captors and has even accused a Swiss diplomat of funding the FARC.
• While Betancourt has been open in her praise of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, she also warned him and others to “change the radical, extremist vocabulary of hate” they engage against the guerillas.
• Could Betancourt receive the next Nobel Peace Prize? Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will try to make it so.
• “There were daily incidents and conflicts” among hostages including the threat of sexual abuse against Betancourt according to former hostage who spent four years in captivity at Betancourt’s side.
• Lastly, the following is video from the Colombian government (as reported by Al Jazeera English) of the operation to free the hostages:

Sources- CNN, ABS-CBN News Online, Canadian Press, azcentral.com, AFP, YouTube, the Telegraph, ABC News Online

Former hostage wants to meet with Pres. Bush

A Colombian politician who was freed last month from his guerilla captors has requested to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush. Luis Eladio Perez has traveled to the U.S. in order to gather support for a “humanitarian exchange” between captives and jailed guerillas. According to one source, Perez’ plan would free high-profile hostages like Ingrid Betancourt as well as three U.S. contractors:

The new plan involves the release of 39 hostages for some 500 members of FARC, which stands for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The exchange would be made in French territories overseas such as Martinique or French Guiana, according to Argentinian newspaper Clarin…

The deal would involve France removing FARC from its list of terrorist organizations, while Washington would have to free two rebels imprisoned in the US: Ricardo Palmera - alias Simon Trinidad - and Anayibe Rojas, known as Sonia. The two would be granted asylum in France under the proposal.

FARC would in turn release three US contractors - Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Mark Gonsalves - who were kidnapped in February 2003.

After being freed, Perez said that the three kidnapped contractors were in bad health and they had requested prompt help from the U.S. government.

Sources (English)- Monsters & Critics, The Latin Americanist, Associated Press

Sources (Spanish)- RCN

Image- Caracol Radio