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End Farc 'hate', Betancourt urges | End Farc 'hate', Betancourt urges |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The recently freed Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt has urged an end to the Colombian government's "vocabulary of hate" against her former captors. | The recently freed Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt has urged an end to the Colombian government's "vocabulary of hate" against her former captors. |
Ms Betancourt, a former presidential candidate, was held hostage for six years by Marxist Farc rebels. | Ms Betancourt, a former presidential candidate, was held hostage for six years by Marxist Farc rebels. |
But, while praising President Alvaro Uribe's work towards her release, she said it was time to end "extremist" language towards the Farc. | But, while praising President Alvaro Uribe's work towards her release, she said it was time to end "extremist" language towards the Farc. |
Ms Betancourt is in Paris, where she flew after her release on Wednesday. | |
"I think we have reached a point where we must change this radical, extremist vocabulary of hate of very strong words that intimately wound the human being," she told French radio. | "I think we have reached a point where we must change this radical, extremist vocabulary of hate of very strong words that intimately wound the human being," she told French radio. |
Ms Betancourt is urging the government to take a more conciliatory tone towards the Farc to achieve further hostage releases, says BBC Americas analyst Warren Bull. | |
But she has no illusions about what she considers to be the group's real nature, he adds. | |
Revenge fear | Revenge fear |
The 46-year-old, who has dual Colombian and French nationality, said she would not return to Colombia immediately. | The 46-year-old, who has dual Colombian and French nationality, said she would not return to Colombia immediately. |
"I think one has to be clever, maybe it is not the time to go home," Ms Betancourt told Radio France International. INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7489991.stm">Colombia's continuing hostage pain | |
"The Farc have taken a huge blow, they could probably want some kind of revenge or do something to regain a certain prestige, so I think it is best to be careful." | |
Ms Betancourt was campaigning for Colombia's presidency when she was captured by the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 2002. | Ms Betancourt was campaigning for Colombia's presidency when she was captured by the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 2002. |
Speaking to French radio, she did not rule out resuming her political career at some stage but said the time was not yet right. | Speaking to French radio, she did not rule out resuming her political career at some stage but said the time was not yet right. |
She said she wished to serve Colombia with all her heart, but that at present it was "too early to talk of such things". | She said she wished to serve Colombia with all her heart, but that at present it was "too early to talk of such things". |
Ms Betancourt has become a celebrity in France, and is due to receive a Legion of Honour medal from President Nicolas Sarkozy next week. | Ms Betancourt has become a celebrity in France, and is due to receive a Legion of Honour medal from President Nicolas Sarkozy next week. |
She has said that she plans to write a play about her experience of being held hostage by the left-wing rebels. | |
The Farc, which has been waging a war of independence for the past four decades, still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. | The Farc, which has been waging a war of independence for the past four decades, still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. |