Libertad!
Filed under: Legal Matters > Politik
Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped by FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) back in 2002, has finally been rescued.
Six years in captivity??? So awful!
The rescue operation resulted in the freeing of Betancourt and 14 other hostages, three of them Americans, which were all held in the jungles of South America.
The three Americans had been held captive since February 13th, 2003, when their single-engine plane unfortunately crashed in mountains south of Bogota. Two other men on the plane were shot to death by FARC.
As for Betancourt, her situation has attracted worldwide attention when she was abducted on February 23rd, 2002 after she entered rebel territory while campaigning for the Colombian presidency.
The news of her deteriorating health was made public after FARC released six hostages this year.
One of those freed, Luis Eladio Perez, says he last saw her in February of 2008 but that she had been suffering from chronic liver problems since 2004.
He adds, "Ingrid made a sign for me to go to the bathroom and she did the same and we were able to talk for about five minutes. I saw she was very ill and wasting away. She looked much worse than in that 'proof-of-life' video the rebels filmed in October. She told me to stay calm and that the guerillas were giving her vitamins and calcium."
Ingrid, who has both Colombian and French citizenship, even got a personal plea made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to her captors back in April.
He said, "Ingrid's health has deteriorated so much that her life is in danger. Ingrid is in danger of imminent death. You have the power to save a woman from death and revive hope for all the other hostages still held."
Let's hope she recuperates quickly.
[Photo via Getty Images.]
So yesterdays news, aren't you ready to retire you fat queer. Your 15mins is nearly up, save your pennies or you will go the road of MC Hammer.
First!!! AND I'm colombian!
omg first
hi its me katie, gnarlyfucks
first!
OLD NEWS YOU FAT PIG
thats truley amazing to here! Perfect for the 4th!!!
Do you mean liberated? Use the spell check, dude!
6
FIRST!!!!
Really is sad,can you imagine?
holy fuck i couldn't imaginne being held captive in a south american jungle for years… that poor woman… i hope something good comes of this … word to the wise though, mayyyybe you shouldn't bother campaigning in rebel territory?? just an idea.
Columbian military special forces are genius. They tricked the commie rebels with a decoy military helicopter. Columbia has been smashing drug labs on a daily basis and has been begging for a free trade agreement with the U.S. The demorats say no, they are on the side of the rebels (commies).
This is old shit… why don't you stick to things you know… like dressing like an idiot and dying your hair stupid colors. No one comes here to read your views on politics.
gracias a Dios Ingrid Betancourt ha sido liberada. Con los terroristas no se puede negociar, solo actuar. Enhorabuena sr Uribe y ejercito colombiano. Aprende algo de está situación señor Zapatero. No soy colombiana, soy española pero me alegro de corazón.
omg i was talking about her like 2 days ago wondering if she was ok!!! wow i am soo happy for her
Re: spell – Libertad is Spanish for Freedom, dumb dumb!!
but I can't imaging that this outfit was in style 6 years ago
yay i'm so happy for her!:)
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
wtf took them zo long 2…
rezcue them….Columbia, huh…
wonder what they got in return
for the prizonerz????……..
69 virginzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?????????
zzzzzzzz after all izn't that y the
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
muzlimz r BLOWING THEMSELVEZ UP 4?????
queztion:….aren't muslim woman virginz when they
marry theze freakz???? and if so, why do they luzt of virginz
in the afterlife???????????????????????? seriouzly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was so happy when i got the news yesterday. she was held captive for so long i was scared she would never make it alive. but she did.
Re: spell –
It's Spanish dumbass
Re: spell –
LIBERTAD means FREEDOM in Spanish!!!
I'm french and I know her son!
I remember last january when i saw him, with my cousin, we almost cried in front of him because we were so sad of this story!! that's horrible she suffered a lot!
God saved her!
shes coming back to France tonight!!! im seeing them on tv her children are crying a lot!!!
Re: Muppe –
Hey:………………………………fuk U…your mother…your father…
your sister…your brother and the large fukin HORSEDICK U JUST
CLIMBED DOWN OFF OF…BITCH………..GO STEP THE FUK OFF
A CLIFF SOMEWHERE IN COLUMBIA…FUKFACE///
MORNIN PEREZ!
I REMEBER HEARING ABOUT HER KIDNAPPING BUT I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING SINCE.
I AM VERY HAPPY THAT SHE CAN NOW BE REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY.
I WISH HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY. SHE HAS TO BE A STRONG WOMAN TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE ALL THOSE YEARS.
GET WELL SOON!!!
Re: yool –
its soooo great 4 them and their children melanie and lorenzo. its thanks to god
yea, mee too, i thought she would die in the jungle :s but she was so present in the french media that she is like a part of every french. we are so happy when i saw the breaking news yesterday
I'm glad you posted this! This is wonderful news for the Colombian community. She is not as sick as you report. She surprisingly looks much healthier than I think most people had anticipated during the national Colombian report they had aired yesterday. Also, I am really surprised at the malicious comments towards you that some people have posted. The release of Ingrid Betancourt and 3 other Americans as well as 11 other Colombian citizens from FARC is huge news for Latin America and it extends even to American foreign policy, since it has been mentioned that the US took some kind of a role in this. Sadly, having this posted on a popular gossip website is probably the only way most idle youth of this great country of ours is going to hear about it. Hopefully, they don't scroll too fast to get to the IF YOU'RE EASILY OFFENDED post
weird. im watching them right now on tv. they look so peaceful ! very emotive.
they come back in france 2morrow.:) (l)
C'est magnifique, Ingrid est un symbol et grace a elle les médias ont fait la lumière sur la cituation dans ce pays ainsi que tout les otages…n'oublions pas les autres otages qui sont encore dans la jungle!
READ THE BOOK 'TWO WHEELS THROUGH TERROR' BY GLEN HEGSTAAD. HE WAS ALSO ABDUCTED BY THE COLUMBIAN REBELS FARC GROUP. HE HAD TO FAKE AN ILLNESS FOR THEM TO LET HIM GO. ITS A REALLY RIVETING STORY THAT HAS ALSO BEEN MADE INTO A NAT GEO EPISODE OF 'LOCKED UP ABROAD' ALSO VISIT HIS WEBSITE STRIKINGVIKING.NET
Thanks for reporting on this. I did not know this, although I feel like I should have. The really important things that are going on in the world around us—that's what I read a number of blogs to keep appraised of. Our children and grandchildren will ask us what was going on in the world around us, when we grow older. I want to be able to tell them.
And I am not talking about people famous for nothing, famous for drugs, famous for being trainwrecks, or just famous for trendy pop culture lives.
Thanks again, Perez, for your sprinkling of cool posts like these.
This particular story isn't about "yesterday's news". It's a fantastic and positive story. Thanks for sharing.
i'm from france, and about her health her doctor said that she was totally fine, and she doesn't look so thin.
that bitch cost million euros to our country… i really think that there's a lot of people who needed those million… whatever!
Best news in such a long time!
Congratulations - I hope it's a realturning point for the great country of Columbia.
Blanantly a movie will be made about this - only question is will Jen or Angie play Ingrid?
Re: vetusvates – News flashed all around the world - but somehow missed you? No excuse on this one - look in the mirror for the reason why you feel like you live under a rock.
We´re so proud to be colombians right now…..but still theres many, many, people to rescue, who had been held captive since 1997, more than ten years of captivity…..spread the word…..we want freedom and peace!!!
SPELL!
HE WAS SAYING LIBERTAD! A**HOLE..
you should probably use the spanish spellcheck!
Thanks Perezito..
for posting our news too!!!!!!!!
Dearest Pezie, if what you are saying is 100% accurate……, meaning you have all your facts……..then this is amazingly sad.
This country is MORE BACKASSED FUCKED UP and violent than previously imagined. What with the rampant drugs, Uber-corrupt gov't and the kidnapping as if it were a hobby, this does not surpirse me. Then again, thankfully it ain't the middle east…
Viva Ingrid !!!
It's some kind of miracle !!
It's gonna be huge tonight in Paris, we're going to celebrate her !!!!
6 years …. welcome back to life ingrid ,
Re: vetusvates – ummm, why don't you read the NEWS
Hello stupid people….she was just released LAST NIGHT and this is BIG NEWS.
Perez, you didn't mention the French connection or how cute her son is!
Thank you Perezito!! This is great news! I appreciate your support for freedom!!
Thank god she and the rest are free, now to exterminate the FARC.
I can't even lie, she is a gorgeous woman, amazing being in captivity for that long and looking so good.
my gf is colombian so yesterday we celebrated with her whole family. im cuban btw so i understand her emotion. its a wonderful thing
TYPICAL WETBACK FUCKS
WE SHOULD TAKE OVER SOUTH AMERICA AND ENSLAVE THOSE BROWN AND BLACK SAVAGES!!!!
The only shame is that this wealthy cunt and tool of the oligarchy was not killed when the FARC freedom fighters had the chance. All of the Rolex-wearing snobs in Colombia who make their millions on the backs of the working classes deserve DEATH, as bloody and with as much violence as possible. Only the evil military death squads and the power hungry rich who kill priests and rape nuns can be happy that this fucking bitch was not sodomized with a bazooka!!!!!
wow perez this is REALLY OLD NEWS. ARE YOU KIDDING? I expected this from you YESTERDAY… especially since you're so cuban?
BY THE WAY YOU …. commentators… it's ColOmbia…. with an O, NOT a U, unless of course you are referring to the University in New York, which would have no relevance in this story.
Re: Muert – Would you die already? Sad excuse for a human being, that's what you are.
Re: USA – Fuck You!
Go back to Europe!
Re: Pervo – How about spelling COLOMBIA right?????
Thanks Perez for this info!
"FARC" or RAFC… Seriously, I beg you to edit your misspells and typos….
Re: Venom – - Ok, so Perhaps a (french) cultural thing, but when you say gorgeous do you mean HOT? Cause if you do my lil' no doubt Dykarina, you need some major specks. R U FUCKING KIDDING ME? LOLOLOL
Best news ever!!! I am so happy for her and her family.
However, let's not forget that there still are other hostages.
that is so harsh! 6yrs….wtf? I understand we as "americans" don't um…what's the word? We don't negotiate..that's it.. We don't negotiate with terrorist…. but those poor people were held captive for soooo long. I mean couldn't we trade the terrorist like some designer clothes in exchange for lives! They could use a new look rite? Seriously though….I am happy they are home….
Re: Muppe –
Muppe is it? well Muppe if u don't like Perez then stay off his website. no one if forcing your little of big fingers on the key board now are they?
She is an hero and she will become a legend.
Bravo Uribe!
Colombia and France can be pround of her!
xxx from Paris
I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THIS. THIS WOMAN APPEARS TO BE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH. IT APPEARS BY THE CONDITION OF HER SKIN AND HAIR YESTERDAY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT SHE WAS TAKING VERY-VERY GOOD CARE OF HERSELF. I DOUBT VERY MUCH SHE WAS IN A COLOMBIAN JUNGLE FOR 6 YEARS. ALL LIES. I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
Re: Guigu – how is he a hero? what has she done? i dont see ur point
Oh my people be writting things that doesnt even make sence. BTW we all have spelling error duh! i dont see why making it such a big deal nway. And yes the news were from yesterday and so what is not like perez is glue to his computer 24/7 ( i think )
This is huge news and I am so happy Ingrid is finally free. Let's hope Mr. Uribe's policy towards the FARC work out and Colombia gets to live peacefully at last.
That said, I was hoping you'd post this yesterday… what with your so called latino feelings: guess what, this is huge in latin america.
Congrats Colombia!
in the pix i saw of her reuniting with her kids she looked pretty good for someone who is that close to death. maybe those calcium pills are the magic elixir. check out msnbc's pix. does this look like someone who is about to succumb? something's not right with this whole rescue story. i smell a rat. coincidence that their rescue is near our independence? and what was Mccain doing in columbia in the first place?
its not old new you fucking idiots she was rescued yesterday
Thanks you MELI (Post #27) for making very valid points about some of the fools who comment on this site.
Did our useless American government really have anything to do with this rescue? Did Bush contribute anything to help those American captives?
the US and Colombia had little to do with it.
CHAVEZ deserves the credit.
OMG i'm so happy !!!! Melanie and Lorenzo must be impatient to see their mother after 6 years!!
Im colombian, and I want you to know that they also rescued soldiers that had been in the jungle for 10 years. Ingrid looked much better because she was recovered from the illness she had when they took that picture that is all around the world in which she looks sick, rally skinny and depressed. A soldier that was suffering that same hell helped her to recover, she is alive thanks to him. So yeah, it is a fact that she almost died, now shes fine but only because of that soldier who was kidnapped to.
LIbertad means freedom in spanish.
Re: Rain – Actually, FARC is the acronym in Spanish, DUMMY!!
Finally, we waited for this for so long!
Im proud of the colombian president, prod of ingrid betacourt, the conlombian armed forces, and most of all prod to be COLOMBIAN!!
Re: USA – Do you mean invade just like the USA did in Iraq? By the way, how many casualties have we had already in this debauchery? I am sure you won't go, just like the typical monday morning quarterback.
Thanks so much for posting this Perez. I know that a lot of young people read what you write and it is great to spread this wonderful news. We should all rejoice in the Colombian government's progress against the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) this year. Not only were Colombian hostages reunited with their families, but three american hostages and one french hostage as well. All three of these countries should be rejoicing in the wonderful political news that comes so few and far in between.
i LOVE this woman. she is utterly inspiring, and it's a relief to know she's free. read her book, and you'll fall for her and her causes, too. Hooray Ingrid!
and spell: you are a total moron, what planet are you on? THINK before you SPEAK.
thank you mr Uribe,Chavez and Sarkozy and to the Special Forces thank you thank you thank you.
still keep the other hostages in your prayers.
JOHN MCCAIN SPENT 5 YEARS AS A PRISONER OF WAR TO WORSE ASSHOLES THAN THESE FARC PRICKS. I AM GLAD SHE HAS BEEN RELEASED BUT LETS NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF OUR OWN HAVE ENDURED SITUATIONS THAT ARE JUST AS BAD. THINK ABOUT POOR TEDDY..HE HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY A LARGE ARROGANT FLATULENT PIGLET AND HE HAS TO LISTEN TO YOU SHREEK EVERY SINGLE DAY. I AM TOTALLY AGAINST PET VOICEBOARDING. POOR LITTLE PUP! IT MUST BE WORSE THAN ABU GHRAIB FOR HIM. SOMEDAY THE WORLD WILL FIND OUT WHAT YOU DO TO HIM PEREZ!
don't be ridiculous.
her rescue has got nothing to do with the 4th of july coming around. americans should stop being so self-centred.
yes, they are friends with colombia's president and they do give money and training for colombian army but this rescue was delivered by colombian people.
could you just focus on the joy of someone being at last liberated, the reunion with her family, the triumph it means for colombia and the hope it gives to the hundred of prisoners who are still captive somewhere in the jungle instead of developing conspiracy theories, how odd it seems ms. betancourt is not looking that the picture that was released in the past, the serendipity of mccain also being in colombia at this time (cos as far as i know he didn't venture into the jungle to release the prisoners)…
Ingrid Betancourt's rescue is of critical importance and is wonderful, but also remember that there were 11 other Colombian military men who were rescued — some had been in captivity for almost a dozen years! This rescue goes beyond the fifteen people that were freed — it also says a lot about the potential for the end of a civil war that has torn apart my father's country. Colombia tierra querida…
im so glad you posted this! It's so sad that it ahs few comments. I am an American and I must say look at the few comments we are only interested in trash talk about ppl we don't know, when this is so worldwide.
SHE WAS ON THE SPANISH NEWS THANKING CHAVEZ, NOT BUSH OR URIBE.
THE US DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE CHAVEZ THE CREDIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE HIM. YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THE NEWS.
Re: Rain –
The real Spanish name is FARC.
Now we will have to wait and see how long it takes for stupid white American university drug addicts to start wearing FARC t-shirts glorifying these terrorist like they wear the dumbass Che t-shirts. FARC and Che were murderous, degenerate communist thugs. May they both rot in hell where they belong. WIll dumb Obamatrons start hanging FARC posters up on the wall along side Che and Obama's pictures? Communist and Muslim morons are the only people who will vote for the Obamanation!
This is NOT ENTERTAINMENT NEWS.
We don't come here for you to push your stupid pet agendas or for you to pretend you are a reporter. You are a liar and you never check your facts. Why should anyone take you seriously??
Perez Hilton is the L-A-Z-I-E-S-T blogger on the Internet
Perez Hilton is the L-A-Z-I-E-S-T blogger on the Internet
Perez Hilton is the L-A-Z-I-E-S-T blogger on the Internet
Perez Hilton is the L-A-Z-I-E-S-T blogger on the Internet
Perez Hilton is the L-A-Z-I-E-S-T blogger on the Internet
Re: WRONG –
Chavez deserves credit?? For what?? financing the FARC?? Ingrid was rescued by the COLOMBIAN Army!!
Gracias !!que bueno ! viva colombia y URIBE !!
great news…but get your facts right….the other two men who were in the plane with the americans died in the crash, they weren't shot by guerrilleros….they crashed in guerrilla zone and were immediately found by guerrilleros and taken to a camp by (of course lying to them and telling them they weren't going to be taken)…
i'm colombian and in colombia right now and it's such a pleasure to see this finally happenning
And to all of those who crticized our president so badly….what's the excuse gonna be from now on, huh??
this gives hope to the families of those who are still in captivity and to an entire country…things are moving forward….so much has been done in the past years and specially in the last few months….
they're going down!!!!!!!!!
Sally #58: YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT! Granted, she looks much much better than in the picture and video and she definitely doesn't look like she was JUST released and brought back from the middle of the jungle. I really do believe she was released a while a go but after all that SHE WENT THROUGH and all that all that people that is abducted by the farc put them trough THEY DESERVE THE CIRCUS! The point is not if her hair looks nice or not (I have seen amazing job done on people in 30 mins with make up) or if she did or didn't gain 5 to 10 pounds on her way from the Jungle to the middle of the media circus… the point is that SHE WAS INDEED taken away from her family 6 years a go. That she was in the middle of the jungle and that finally thanks to Chavez and a couple more NON AMERICAN PEOPLE AT ALL she was released. Released together with another 3 AMERICAN soldiers for whom their own country did NOTHING about. AND MOST OF ALL: SALLY STUPID WHITE TRASH C**T… IF THE WORLD HAS TO PUT UP WITH THE AMERICAN CIRCUS AS THE WORLD DOES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT AMERICA (SORRY, NORTH AMERICA.. THERE IS ONLY ONE AMERICA, ONE CONTINENT NOT 3) PUTS UP WITH OTHER COUNTRIES CIRCUS.
You do not believe this story.. but you probably do believe in 9.11 and all that. GET A BRAIN AND LEARN TO READ THE NEWS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT IF HER HAIR WAS SHANY… THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT SHE IS ALIVE AND CAN TALK ABOUT THAT! YOU STUPID WHITE TRASH!
Sally: YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT! Granted, she looks much much better than in the picture and video and she definitely doesn't look like she was JUST released and brought back from the middle of the jungle. I really do believe she was released a while a go but after all that SHE WENT THROUGH and all that all that people that is abducted by the farc put them trough THEY DESERVE THE CIRCUS! The point is not if her hair looks nice or not (I have seen amazing job done on people in 30 mins with make up) or if she did or didn't gain 5 to 10 pounds on her way from the Jungle to the middle of the media circus… the point is that SHE WAS INDEED taken away from her family 6 years a go. That she was in the middle of the jungle and that finally thanks to Chavez and a couple more NON AMERICAN PEOPLE AT ALL she was released. Released together with another 3 AMERICAN soldiers for whom their own country did NOTHING about. AND MOST OF ALL: SALLY STUPID WHITE TRASH C**T… IF THE WORLD HAS TO PUT UP WITH THE AMERICAN CIRCUS AS THE WORLD DOES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT AMERICA (SORRY, NORTH AMERICA.. THERE IS ONLY ONE AMERICA, ONE CONTINENT NOT 3) PUTS UP WITH OTHER COUNTRIES CIRCUS.
You do not believe this story.. but you probably do believe in 9.11 and all that. GET A BRAIN AND LEARN TO READ THE NEWS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT IF HER HAIR WAS SHANY… THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT SHE IS ALIVE AND CAN TALK ABOUT THAT! YOU STUPID WHITE TRASH!
yeah.your definitely behind.this all happened from early afternoon yesterday as it is still going on today as ingrid is reunited with her kids.im colombian.and i am in bogota right now.and i think it's horrible of you to not even say anything about the poor soldiers and policemen who were also free..who were in captivity some up to 10 years.i was waiting to see if you'd post anything about what's going on in my country.but im incredibly dissapointed.
BE A BETTER LATINO. AND GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.
Here in France we're so happy. We were waiting for this day for 6 years now.
I think of Ingrid's family which has been strong during these years, especially her children, Lorenzo and Mélanie. Freedom!!!
Don't stop thinking of the others hostages who are still waiting for freedom in the Colombian jungle.
I have to say that Lorenzo, Ingrid's son, is very hot.
Re: spell – he spelled it right its in spanish!
Congrats to the Ingrid and all the captives, to special forces, and to *dreamy sigh* Alvaro Uribe, who I wish we could make President of the USA! But we can't, glad he's on our team.
.
DON'T DO COCAINE Y'ALL!!!!! Not for a while! C'mon, you need to save money anyway with gas prices like this. And you've been meaning to take a break from it anyway, right? Here's the deal: FARC is on the ropes, they're going down, and the way they make their money selling Americans and Europeans cocaine! If we could quit snorting Inca Dandruff for just a few months, maybe a year, President Uribe will be able to finish those murdering bastards off!
.
QUIT COCAINE! (at least till Christmas) STOP FARC!!!!
Unbeleivable news….I havent stopped crying since her release with sheer joy and terror at what this women has gone through….she is remarkable and an asset to the world…lets hope she can recover some of her health and FINALLY become president….its nothing short of what a real women like Ingrid deserves….amazing and an inspiration to women worldwide….Nikki the Brit
PERVO it is COLOMBIA not COLUMBIA not only you but most of you Americans…As a COLOMBIAN this is a really good news, not only Ingred but 14 more people were liberated and we are in the way of getting the FARC down…We Can Do IT COLOMBIAAAAAAA!
Perez, honey… if you want to be a legitimate reporter and talk about real world issues, work on your grammar. "The three Americans had been held captive since February 13th, 2003, when their single-engine plane unfortunately crashed in mountains south of Bogota." No bueno!
good good
Re: spell – He wrote it in spanish and it's correct, dude!
people are fucking stupid..libertad is in spanish..why would he need to check his spelling. Gracias a dios todos 15 estan bien y vivos. Ayer fue un dia muy grande para colombia. Yo amo mi colombia.
Re: spell – "libertad" means "liberated" in spanish… and since this is a Colombian story, it seems appropriate to use SPANISH… idiot!
Re: Rain – Rain #2 It's Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC, he (Perez) translated to english for you people who doesn't know spanish.
Bienvenida querida Ingrig