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August 30, 2008 3:46:31 AM CDT

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FARC Hostage Near Death in Jungle

Posted Feb 28, 08 8:21 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – A high-profile hostage still held by Colombian rebels is near death because of mistreatment and a lack of medicine, a former fellow captive said today. Ingrid Betancourt, seized by FARC rebels six years ago while campaigning for the presidency, is sick with hepatitis and liver problems, says Luis Eladio Perez, one of four hostages released yesterday. "It breaks my heart to have left her behind," he said.

Perez said he and Betancourt tried to escape two years ago but gave themselves up after five days in the jungle, Reuters reports. Rebels chained them to trees as punishment and took away their boots. "For FARC, Ingrid is the golden treasure in this wretched process," Perez said. Betancourt´s last words to him were, "Enjoy, enjoy every minute of your freedom," he said.

Source Reuters

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Juan Carlos Lecompte, left, husband of kidnapped politician Ingrid Betancourt, and his mother-in-law Yolanda Pulecio attend a mass in Betancourt's honor in Bogota, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, as a cutout...   (Associated Press)
Ingrid Betancourt's son Lorenzo reacts during a press conference in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008. Four FARC hostages were released Wednesday and flown to Venezuela after six years of captivity. Two...   (Associated Press)
This photo released by the Colombia's government Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, shows former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. (AP Photo/Colombia's Presidency)   (Associated Press)
Ingrid Betancourt's son Lorenzo, left, his father, Fabrice Delloye, and Consuelo Gonzalez, a former Colombian congresswoman who was held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC,...   (Associated Press)
Fabrice Delloye, right, comforts Consuelo Gonzalez, a former Colombian congresswoman who was held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as she cries during the press conference...   (Associated Press)
A giant poster of kidnapped French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt is displayed on the facade of a building in Nice, southern France, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. The poster marks the sixth anniversary...   (Associated Press)
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Nicolas Sarkozy  • Colombia  • hostage  • FARC  • Ingrid Betancourt  • Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia  • Hugo Chávez  • jungle  • Luis Eladio Perez


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