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Betancourt 'selfish in captivity' | Betancourt 'selfish in captivity' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ingrid Betancourt, a former prisoner of Farc rebels in Colombia, was selfish and domineering in captivity, three fellow hostages say in a new book. | Ingrid Betancourt, a former prisoner of Farc rebels in Colombia, was selfish and domineering in captivity, three fellow hostages say in a new book. |
In their memoir, the three US military contractors describe their five-year ordeal in the jungles of Colombia. | In their memoir, the three US military contractors describe their five-year ordeal in the jungles of Colombia. |
One of them says that Ms Betancourt was even worse than the Farc guards. | One of them says that Ms Betancourt was even worse than the Farc guards. |
Ms Betancourt, the French-Colombian ex-politician, received a hero's welcome upon her rescue last year. She has not commented on the Americans' account. | Ms Betancourt, the French-Colombian ex-politician, received a hero's welcome upon her rescue last year. She has not commented on the Americans' account. |
'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves were freed alongside Ms Betancourt and 11 Colombians by soldiers posing as aid workers in a daring operation hailed around the world. | Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves were freed alongside Ms Betancourt and 11 Colombians by soldiers posing as aid workers in a daring operation hailed around the world. |
In their book they take turns narrating their experience as hostages with Colombia's main leftist rebel group, which has been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s. | In their book they take turns narrating their experience as hostages with Colombia's main leftist rebel group, which has been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s. |
I watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control Keith Stansell, pictured right | I watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control Keith Stansell, pictured right |
They describe forced marches, meagre rations and mind-numbing boredom. They also had to compete with other prisoners for sleeping space, food and the sole Spanish-English dictionary. | They describe forced marches, meagre rations and mind-numbing boredom. They also had to compete with other prisoners for sleeping space, food and the sole Spanish-English dictionary. |
The harshest words for Ms Betancourt are from Mr Stansell, who accuses her of telling their Farc guards that the Americans are CIA agents, a charge other freed hostages have denied. | The harshest words for Ms Betancourt are from Mr Stansell, who accuses her of telling their Farc guards that the Americans are CIA agents, a charge other freed hostages have denied. |
"Ingrid had sent notes to [Farc commander] Sombra telling him that we were CIA agents and she wanted us out of there for that reason," Mr Stansell writes. | "Ingrid had sent notes to [Farc commander] Sombra telling him that we were CIA agents and she wanted us out of there for that reason," Mr Stansell writes. |
The 44-year-old former marine said Ms Betancourt tried to dominate the camp. | The 44-year-old former marine said Ms Betancourt tried to dominate the camp. |
"I watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control," he told the Associated Press in an interview before the book was published. | "I watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control," he told the Associated Press in an interview before the book was published. |
"Some of the guards treated us better than she did." | "Some of the guards treated us better than she did." |
Mr Gonsalves says Ms Betancourt put pressure on Farc commanders to keep the Americans out of her shelter. | Mr Gonsalves says Ms Betancourt put pressure on Farc commanders to keep the Americans out of her shelter. |
"She wasn't making a request, but issuing a command," he writes. "She wanted us put in some other part of the camp." | "She wasn't making a request, but issuing a command," he writes. "She wanted us put in some other part of the camp." |
However, he writes that his opinion of her changed after she agreed to share her radio with him. | However, he writes that his opinion of her changed after she agreed to share her radio with him. |
"Maybe she was not the person we thought she was. Maybe Ingrid has a far more complicated and multi-dimensional person than she'd allowed us to believe." | "Maybe she was not the person we thought she was. Maybe Ingrid has a far more complicated and multi-dimensional person than she'd allowed us to believe." |
Mr Gonsalves developed a close friendship with Ms Betancourt, he says, and came to admire the former Colombian presidential candidate. | Mr Gonsalves developed a close friendship with Ms Betancourt, he says, and came to admire the former Colombian presidential candidate. |
"She's a tough woman. She used to give those guerrillas a hard time." | "She's a tough woman. She used to give those guerrillas a hard time." |
Hollywood interest | Hollywood interest |
In response to the criticism, Ms Betancourt's spokeswoman told the Associated Press that she was "dedicated to writing her own book and not making declarations until it is finished." | |
There has also been interest from Hollywood producers in turning her story into a film. | There has also been interest from Hollywood producers in turning her story into a film. |
Ms Betancourt has said that her six years of captivity was an agonising ordeal only lessened by snatched radio broadcasts heard on an illicit radio and the support of fellow prisoners. | Ms Betancourt has said that her six years of captivity was an agonising ordeal only lessened by snatched radio broadcasts heard on an illicit radio and the support of fellow prisoners. |
Since her release, Ms Betancourt has continued to campaign for the release of about two dozen high-level hostages Farc is holding for political gain and hundreds of other being held for cash ransom. | Since her release, Ms Betancourt has continued to campaign for the release of about two dozen high-level hostages Farc is holding for political gain and hundreds of other being held for cash ransom. |
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