“Mama, I had so many things to tell you. To explain that it has been quite a long time since I have not had anymore news of Clara and her baby“. With these words, Ingrid Betancourt states clearly that she knows nothing of the fate of her campaign associate, with whom she was kidnapped in February 2002, and who is the mother of a child born in captivity, three years ago, called Emmanuel.

Clara Gonzales de Rojas, Clara’s mother, is not able to speak. Her spirits are not the best at the moment; however, when she became aware on Friday last that proof had been given of 16 of the hostages held by FARC, she rejoiced and said that this gave her hope. In particular, proof that Ingrid Betancourt was alive moved her greatly. She stated she was happy to see her but sad to see the conditions in which she was held.

The last time Clara’s mother got news of her daughter and her grandchild, who was born in the forest, was last July, from the evidence about other kidnapped soldiers. One of them mentioned he had seen two woman, Ingrid and Clara, always accompanied by a child, who from time to time would be carried by the guerrillas with whom he always played. Previously we had more details about Clara from Corporal John Frank Pinchao, when he escaped after a long captivity lasting 9 years. It was he who revealed the name of Clara’s son.