A satirical comic book titled ‘Ingrid of the Jungle,” which depicts former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt’s six year ordeal in the Colombian jungle, will go on sale in France from Wednesday.
The 46 page comic, created by Serge Scotto, Eric Stoffel and Richard Di Martino and published by Fluide Glacial, will hit shelves just days before Betancourt’s own book, written in French and titled “Même le silence a une fin” (“Even silence has an end”), is scheduled to be released on September 21.
Ingrid of the Jungle tells the story of Ingrid “Petancourt,” a hostage of the “Farce” in a country called “Colombin,” who is portrayed as ambitious and selfish. The character comports herself as devoutly religious but betrays other hostages, steals their food and is servile to her captors. She is depicted as ungrateful when finally rescued by the Colombian army.
Dual French-Colombian citizen Betancourt was kidnapped by the FARC on February 23, 2002.
Colombia’s armed forces rescued her and fourteen others in the highly-celebrated liberation mission “Operation Checkmate” on July 2, 2008.
In July Betancourt was widely condemned in Colombia after it was revealed that the former hostage was seeking damages from the Colombian government for her time in FARC captivity. Following a public outcry against her, she withdrew the petition.
Three American contractors who were Betancourt’s fellow FARC hostages, and who were also rescued in Operation Checkmate, painted a grim picture of the French-Colombian in their book “Out of Captivity,” claiming she was arrogant, stole food, and put their lives in danger by telling the rebel guards that the authors were CIA agents.
Betancourt left Colombia shortly after she was freed in the daring rescue operation and has only returned briefly to her native land. She now splits her time between Paris and New York.
A July poll conducted by Gallup found that 80% of Colombians viewed Betancourt in a less than favorable light.