Yesterday in a letter addressed to the French government and all the Ingrid Betancourt support committees, the association of families of those held hostage, ASFAMIPAZ "thanked them sincerely for all their support".

Dear Sirs,

To the French Government and Ingrid Betancourt committees worldwide

Please receive our warmest and sincerest greetings, from my beautiful country, Colombia.

I'm writing to thank you very much for all the support you give us. Colombia and all Colombians need people who show so much heartfelt interest in helping peace return to my country.

We are extremely grateful to you for assisting the thousands of families who are going through such difficult times. Thank you for helping us find ways that will lead us to a real peace where kidnapping and hostage taking will be ended.

Together all the nations of the world will show us the way to live without fear, to live as Jesus always said, as brothers in heart and mind.

That is why we ask you to continue to help us in the dreadful situation experienced by mothers, fathers and sons of 34 military personnel kidnapped eight years ago, and who are supported by my association as well as the families of the 3000 civilians kidnapped in my country.

We believe in a politically negotiated solution, and as parents, have always rejected proposals from our government that has often insisted on launching military rescue operations - because we know that this would mean certain death for those who, in serving their country, now find themselves in this terrible hostage situation.

We ask you, as a member of the European Union, to urge our President Alvaro Uribe to negotiate a humanitarian agreement with FARC because we are terrified by the arduous conditions experienced by our loved ones and we fear their health may have seriously deteriorated throughout these long years.

Mr Chirac, we wish to thank you very specially for having sent such an important request to our President, Alvaro Uribe on the day of his re-election as President.

Thank you for sharing the burden of anguish and suffering with our families whose loved ones are in such a cruel situation.

Members of committees, may God and His Mother bless and inspire you so that you may continue this humanitarian task, which brings peace to the heart of all our suffering mothers.

With love and respect,

Melba Pacheco Mondragón
Spokesperson for ASFAMIPAZ
Cali Valle
Colombia.