Yolanda Betancourt, mother of Ingrid held by FARC since 23 February 2002, explains her campaign. She uses her energy for love of her daughter. And despairs of President Uribe who” does not want a humanitarian agreement”.

Yolanda Pulecio Betancourt is publishing a book called “Ingrid my daughter ,my love”(*), a collection of letters that she send regularly to her daughter , held by FARC rebels since 23 February 2002, by means of a radio programme broadcast by radio “Caracol” destine d to be heard by those “held hostage” in the Colombian jungle.

An interview of determination and emotion.

Why did you write this book?

So that Ingrid will know that I am with her everyday. It is a gift. To give her strength. I don’t know if she hears my messages; I hope so. Hostages who were freed have said that they were given a small radio and batteries so they could hear messages from their families.

You often mention your faith in God. Do you even wonder why he has given you this burden?

I have not lost faith. My husband used always say to me:” The leaf of a tree cannot move without the will of God”. I believe in God. He is my strength. People who do not believe in God in such a world, to whom can they turn?

You explain that 71% of Colombians are in favour of a humanitarian agreement that would allow hostage to be freed. However, President Uribe was re-elected this summer when he was scarcely in favour of this. How do you explain that?

For five months he mislead us (prior to the election; editor’s note) saying he would bring in a humanitarian agreement. I was the first to believe once again in President Uribe. I never though he would go back on the undertaking he had given the families of the hostages... Even Uribe’s supporters whom I met were saying: “ Listen, Yolanda, now he cannot turn back. The State has made a promise to the countries that are helping us”. It was a State compromise. I could not believe from one moment to the next that the President was going to do a u-turn on everything.

After his election, President Uribe had also declared himself in favour of talks about the fate of the hostages. And there was a car bomb attack outside the Military Training School in Bogota, on 19 October after which the President announced his unwillingness to examine a prisoner exchange. In your opinion, is this attack suspicious?

Of course, half an hour after the attack, Uribe accused FARC. Before coming to Europe, the Colombian Attorney General stated he had not any proof that FARC were responsible for the attack…Why did President Uribe refuse in a very dismissive tone the services of a peace mediator to begin talks with the guerrilla about the humanitarian agreement? As well, he ordered the army to free the hostages by force… I could not believe it. I cried.

How do you explain the stance of President Uribe?

Deep down, he does not want a humanitarian exchange. Why not? Because he only thinks of himself. Why doesn’t he think of all the families who are suffering? I do not want to think badly of him. I saw him a year ago. I told him frankly; ” I don’t wish to hate you because I am a Catholic. I ask God to pardon me. I have had to go to confession because of all these feelings I have for you”. Because, for a mother, to know that he holds the key to my daughter’s freedom and he does nothing…

One of the key solutions to the hostage situation is the US and the link between Uribe and Bush, isn’t that so?

He is the only leader in South America who still supports Bush in his war with Iraq. Uribe is in favour of war and violence. He does not want talks. President Uribe is very clever. He has mixed up the question of the” humanitarian agreement” with that of the peace process.

The situation of the hostages has also a political dimension?

The situation is humanitarian. Colombia signed the Geneva Convention for International Human Rights. The President had to accept that there is an armed conflict in Colombia; he did not want to admit it. He aligned himself with Bush by declaring that FARC are only terrorists.

Where do you get your energy to continue your fight?

In my love for my daughter and my grandchildren. I am a grandmother and it pains me very much to know that they are growing up without their mother.

From the idea I had always spoke about with Ingrid: to fight against injustice. And to have faith in God.