Revista Cambio, a major weekly Colombian newspaper last week published n article the author of which Mauricio Vargas, suggested that the people of France would be fooled by the families of kidnapping victims - in particular by Ingrid Betancourt's family - and that French people believed that Ingrid was being held by the Colombian government.

This type of writing, one of a long number of similar articles is no surprise to those who know the direct connections between the Colombian press and the government. Juan Carlos Lecompte, Ingrid's husband, has used the writers' page in the newspaper to reply:

" The newspaper column written by Maurice Vargas - Sorrowful endings"- suggests that French people are either very stupid or easily led, or else that they are completely out of touch with reality.

As this concerns the population of France, one of the most highly educated in the world, in my opinion this shows a lack of respect. The fact is that French public opinion is not easily mistaken.

In all of our statements about the kidnapping, we start by saying that the only people responsible for the kidnapping in Colombia are FARC but that the solution depends on parties, FARC and the Colombian government.

Then we put aside the situation of the civilian hostages and we speak of the soldiers and policemen whose situation is the most dreadful: because the State of Colombia allows those who have lost their freedom while defending our native country to be forgotten and abandoned to their fate.

These military prisoners were ordered to fight and they had no choice. A State that gives such an order and then no longer bothers about them is an irresponsible State.

As well, this article endangers the integrity of the families of those kidnapped, because as there are so many "fanatical supporters of Uribe" at liberty, by blaming us for Uribe's international discredit, is a death threat to us - knowing the number and determination of fools who encouraged by articles such as this one, will not hesitate to attack

We have enough problems and suffering already without adding to them.

Juan Carlos Lecompte, Bogotà