A group calling themselves the “Ingrid Betancourt collective” launched a manifesto in support of her freedom which will besubmitted to all presidential candidates.

It will soon be 5 years since Ingrid Betancourt and Clara Rojas were kidnapped in Colombia.

Melanie Betancourt, Ingrid’s daughter stated “we want the candidates to be

committed to the freeing of my mother. We want action! Getting them to sign the declaration will mean a guarantee”. The collective will undertake a series of meetings with the candidates with a view to obtaining their signatures.

According to the collective, “a month away from the anniversary of Ingrid’s kidnapping, it is necessary that candidates prove to Ingrid’s family as well as to many French men and women who support her that their promise to obtain her freedom will be based on practical help and action, not on compassion, that they will do all in their power so that she doesn’t spend another 5 years as a hostage”.

The manifesto, composed of 7 points that are proposed actions” is not a final statement: we are suggesting possible actions to the candidates but we will judge their personal commitment based on their practical proposals. We hope they will show a sense of daring, courage and an iron will in any proposals put forward to bring about a solution”.