[NYTr] Proof that Colombian Hostages are Alive is "Thanks to Chavez"
 
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:52:21 -0600 (CST)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
Venezuelanalysis - Nov 30, 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2935

Proof that Colombian Hostages are Alive is "Thanks to Chavez"

by Kiraz Janicke

Caracas, November 30, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com) - Colombia announced
today that authorities arrested three people presumed to belong to
urban militias of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in
BogotC! late Thursday, who were found in possession of five videos and
seven letters and a digital memory card with photographs demonstrating
proof of life of five civilian and eleven military hostages held by the
FARC, including French Colombian citizen Ingrid Betancourt and three US
"defense contractors" [sic; i.e., mercenaries]. The videos and other
documents showing proof of life were addressed to Colombian Senator
Piedad Cordoba and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The son of Ingrid Betancourt, Lorenzo Betancourt, said the proof that
his mother is alive is thanks to the mediation of President Chavez.
However, he expressed concern over her health and asked that Chavez's
mediation be renewed to secure her release as soon as possible.

The proof of life of the hostages appears only a week after Colombian
president Alvaro Uribe unilaterally terminated the mediating role of
Chavez and Cordoba, who were working to secure the release of the
hostages and had assured that "proof of life would arrive any minute."

In an interview with Telesur, Codroba, who is now under investigation
by the Supreme Court for "crimes of treason against the homeland and
collusion," defended her role and said that the proof of life of the
hostages demonstrates that the mediation of herself and the Venezuelan
president was being undertaken with complete seriousness and
responsibility.

Colombian Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo confirmed in a
press conference this morning that of the five videos, four of them
were filmed during October 23-24 of this year.

One video shows Betancourt, who was last confirmed alive in a video
released in 2003. Another video, dated January 1, 2007, shows three
U.S. defense contractors [mercenaries] captured by the FARC in 2003 when
their surveillance plane crashed in the jungle in the south of Colombia.

Among the seven letters was one written by Army Lieutenant Raimundo
MalagC3n Castellanos addressed to President Chavez and dated 23 of
October 2007. Another letter was from Betancourt, addressed to her
mother Yolanda Pulecio and dated October 24, 2007.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy told reporters in Paris that the
authenticity of the material is "indisputable" and that the proof of
life of the hostages "encourages us to redouble our efforts to obtain
their liberation."

In a statement released today, the Committee in Solidarity with Ingrid
Betancourt in Paris also said that the proof of life of the hostages
demonstrated the effectiveness of the mediation of President Chavez and
Senator Cordoba.

"Ingrid does not look her best," the statement continued, "this
increases our sense of worry. It is urgent that Ingrid is liberated."
The statement also called for the "re-initiation" of the mediation of
Chavez and Cordoba, "together with the Colombian government."

However, relations remain "frozen" between Venezuela and Colombia after
Venezuela recalled its ambassador from BogotC! to evaluate relations
after Uribe terminated the mediations for a hostage exchange and
accused Chavez of "legitimizing terrorism."

Chavez has responded by saying that Uribe has no political will for
peace and used invalid arguments and lied to terminate the humanitarian
exchange. He declared he will not have relations with Colombia while
Uribe remains president.

Venezuela has not yet formally broken off relations, but Colombian
business groups are worried that the dispute could affect trade between
the two countries. Venezuela is Colombia's second largest trading
partner after the U.S.

The Advisory Commission on Foreign Relations of Colombia will assess
relations between the two countries on December 5 and has proposed that
both Brazil and Ecuador facilitate a dialogue between Caracas and
BogotC!.

The Ex-Foreign Minister of Brazil, Francisco Rezek said today that
"Brazil has all the conditions to contribute" to a solution of the
divergences between the two countries. 

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