Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt Thursday denounced a humanitarian exchange or prisoner swap with the FARC as a “fantasy” and claimed that a military rescue would be a more probable solution for kidnap victims.
In an interview with Caracol radio, Betancourt announced that every day guerilla fighters are released from jail, whereas kidnap victims have no alternatives for rescue and remain in indefinite captivity.
“The guerillas leave jail due to corruption or because they have served their penalties, but the kidnapped have no other alternatives,” Betancourt said.
Colombia’s most famous former hostage supports negotiations with FARC, but also noted that captives often wait without hope for a military rescue. She recalled her time in captivity and stated that there is no 31st to look forward to, only time to “sit and wait for nothing”.
“We must recall that the military can circle in on camps and this increases the chances for a rescue or for the kidnapped to escape”, Betancourt said.
For captives it is heartbreaking to know that they can not be with their loved ones over the holidays and to have to live in a world of constant horror.
“Every day is the same and people are mistreated all the time, it is hell”, Betancourt said.
Betancourt was rescued in operation Jaque in July of 2008. The former captive sends warm wishes to those in captivity and hopes they will find the strength to carry on. Betancourt also requested that the guerillas put their hate aside and treat captives humanely and invites them to turn themselves in and return to freedom and society.