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End Farc 'hate', Betancourt urges | End Farc 'hate', Betancourt urges |
(about 3 hours 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. |
She told the BBC that she did not rule out running for president again. | |
"That could be a really nice dream, but I don't think it's the top of the dream," she said. | |
She was speaking in Paris, where she flew after her release last Wednesday. | |
In a separate interview for French radio, she said: "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." | |
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. | 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. | 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 said in another interview for 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 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." | "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. | She has said that she plans to write a play about her experience of being held hostage by the left-wing rebels. |
'Cover story' | 'Cover story' |
Mr Gonsalves thanked the Colombian government and military for his rescue | Mr Gonsalves thanked the Colombian government and military for his rescue |
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. |
On Monday, one of three American hostages released at the same time as Ms Betancourt said that the Farc were not revolutionaries but "terrorists". | On Monday, one of three American hostages released at the same time as Ms Betancourt said that the Farc were not revolutionaries but "terrorists". |
Marc Gonsalves said that the rebels were "bad people" whose interests lay in drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping. | Marc Gonsalves said that the rebels were "bad people" whose interests lay in drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping. |
"They say that they want equality. They say that they just want to make Colombia a better place. But that is all a lie. It is a cover story, and they hide behind it," Mr Gonsalves said. | "They say that they want equality. They say that they just want to make Colombia a better place. But that is all a lie. It is a cover story, and they hide behind it," Mr Gonsalves said. |
Mr Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were captured in 2003 when their plane was shot down during an anti-drug mission. | Mr Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were captured in 2003 when their plane was shot down during an anti-drug mission. |
Addressing a news conference in Texas, Mr Gonsalves said that the Farc would punish other hostages because of the three men and Ms Betancourt's release. | Addressing a news conference in Texas, Mr Gonsalves said that the Farc would punish other hostages because of the three men and Ms Betancourt's release. |