Astrid Betancourt welcomes the “determination and ongoing attempts” of the French government in favour of the liberation of her sister Ingrid held hostage by FARC in Colombia for nearly five years.

Wednesday, several well known people, among them Melanie Betancourt and the singer Renaud launched in Paris a “manifesto for the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt” aimed at candidate sin the French presidential elections. Ingrid’s mother, Yolanda Pulecio who lives in Bogota and her sister Astrid are not members of the support committee that organised this initiative and did not take part in this initiative.

“The only hope” of freeing Ingrid “is the determination and ongoing campaign of the French government “, since her kidnapping, stated Astrid Betancourt to Associated Press, expressing her “gratitude” to the French authorities.

Ingrid Betancourt who is French-Colombian, a former candidate in the Colombian presidential elections and her associate, Clara Rojas, have been held hostage by FARC since February 2002.