Marc Gonsalves was held hostage by FARC for 1967 days. He was freed on 2 July 2008 at the same time as Ingrid Betancourt. He tells his story.

Marc Gonsalves, former member of the US Air Force was freed on 2 July 2008 at the same time as Ingrid Beancourt having been held hostage by FARC for 1967 days. He has just written “Hostages” (published by Michel Lafon)

2nd July, you celebrated your first year of freedom, after having spent 1967 days in the Colombian jungle. Has your life returned to normal?

This year has probably been the best year of my entire life. I feel I have accomplished a lot; I renewed my relations with my family, I wrote this book “Hostages” with my companions Keith Stansell and Tom Howes, I returned to work and I’m preparing to buy a house. But is that a normal life? I think that having been a hostage changed my life for ever, hopefully for the best. My outlook on life has changed and I now appreciate the smallest aspects of being free. Life is a gift, let us live it to the full.

How did you manage to survive 1967 days in the jungle?

When you are in the worst of situations, when you think that you cannot take one more step or live to see another day , that’s the time that an unsuspected power reveals itself and helps you to fight your fears.. That is what gives you the physical strength to do things you felt unable to do. And above all, there is faith.

Writing the book, was it a therapy for you?

Every time I talk about my experience in the jungle, I feel a therapeutic affect. We wrote this book very quickly, we did not leave out any detail or hide any emotion. To such an extent that after having worked twelve hours on the book each day, I had nightmares again, I believed I was held hostage again by FARC. It was the worst dream.

Have you any mental or physical after effects linked to the years spent in the jungle?

I left the jungle suffering from serious health problems. My right knee is damaged after the long walks when we were laden down like mules. My back has given me trouble since the crash (the crash after which Marc and his colleagues were captured by FARC,editor’s note). The noise of a helicopter upsets me and the smell of grilled cooking reminds me each time of FARC’s cooking. I know I must expect this type of upsets, but it does not prevent me appreciating life.

Have you been back to Colombia? If not, would you like to?

I have not yet been back but, yes, I would like that. I like that country and after having lived there as a hostage, I feel that a part of me is Colombian. I share the hope of all Colombians that one day their country will be at peace.

You describe the FARC as being both criminals and victims of their own leaders…

There are two parts to FARC. Firstly, there is a small number of leaders with huge authority. Their aim is to overthrow the Colombian government by force. These people profit from crime and terrorism. They have got rich through drug traficking and are intoxicated with the power that they have over their forces. They wrap themselves in Marxist ideology, saying they are fighting against corruption and in favour of equality. But of course none of this is true and is only used to justify their criminal behaviour. Their subordinates revere them like gods.

And then there are the foot soldiers. These are generally young- sometimes children- poor and uneducated who have been brainwashed into making them believe that they are carrying out a revolution and that they will become rich and powerful when they win. But their leaders have really made them into modern slaves. They are obliged to work without pay and have no right to leave the organisation. Some are as brutal as their leaders but others are aware they are wrong and desperately want a way out.

Even after having spent time with them, you are not affected by the Stockholm syndrome?

The FARC are very cruel. I don’t understand how one could have any sympathy whatsoever for this organisation. I remember one guerrilla in particular, who enjoyed making us suffer. He used to refuse to feed us when we were hungry, to give us medicine when we were sick, and made us relieve ourselves in the cage we shared with others, surrounded by barbed wire, refusing us access to the toilets. One day he was sent out to get food and wood and was killed by the Colombian army. On hearing this news, I rejoiced. For the first time in my life, I rejoiced in a man’s death. I would never again have to suffer his cruelty.

The radio is a vital element that was the cause of many rows…

For a hostage, the radio is the only connection with the outside world, and with the hostage’s family. There are so many hostages in Colombia that some radio channels dedicate programmes to the families of the hostages, who can send messages to those held by FARC.

I remember one row about a radio. It was when FARC confiscated all the radios in the camp. One of the hostages( Ingrid Betancourt, editor’s note)hid her radio in her boot. We all expected she would share the news with the other hostages, but she did not do so. And that led to a row. This example shows how small the world of the hostage is. The least problem can take on huge proportions. As the years went by, my companions and I became more patient and tolerant. Being a hostage makes you humble.

The image you paint of Ingrid Betancourt is far from that of the innocent icon that we have of her in France: meanness, betrayal… Tom, Keith and you say that she is a “viper”…

When I am asked a question about one of my fellow hostages, I prefer to remember only his/her strengths and nobility. Ingrid is a strong, daring, passionate woman. She is a survivor.