FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE INGRID BETANCOURT IS IN GOOD HEALTH

Bogotá, Colombia (13 March 2003) -- The following report is based on statements by Raúl Reyes, the spokesman for FARC, to AFP (Agence France Presse). Betancourt was kidnapped by this guerrilla group on February 23, 2002.

In response to questions, Reyes pointed out that "Ingrid is physically alright, but emotionally she can't be that well, as she knows that Uribe Vélez is not really committed to finding agreements that will lead to a final solution to the growing problem of prisoners of war taken by both the Government and the FARC insurgency."

Reyes added that "Ingrid feels encouraged by the efforts made by the French government to try to gain her freedom, as well as by all the efforts of her family, especially her mother, husband and children."

From the time of her kidnapping, the FARC have only once provided any proof that the former candidate is alive - a video taped on May 15, that was delivered to the media on July 23.

Reyes pointed out that in Betancourt's case, as in the case of some twenty-odd kidnapped political leaders, the only possible way to gain their freedom is by way of an exchange.

"It must be clearly understood by all that the political prisoners of both sides will be liberated when an agreement is reached between the Colombian government and the FARC. It will be very difficult to gain the release of one or several of them unless this requirement is met", said Reyes.

Juan Carlos Lecompte, Ingrid Betancourt's husband, said he was satisfied with the FARC statement, although he complained about the lack of interest on the part of the government in reaching an agreement for her liberation.

"I am happy that she is alive after seven months of uncertainty, and this is very encouraging. But if she feels down, I think it is a consequence of her year long captivity", said Lecompte, during an interview with private radio station Caracol.

"If I am depressed, she must be feeling even worse, because you cannot compare her suffering, all alone in such horrible circumstances ", he added.

"I am glad she could find out about some of our efforts, and that this has given her some hope and has brought her some peace of mind", he pointed out.

Nevertheless, Betancourt's husband regrets the fact that although many governments and parties around the world show interest in her case, President Alvaro Uribe's government doesn't consider the issue of kidnappings a top priority.

"There are great contradictions in Colombia. Just last night I met with the (government's) high peace commissioner, Luis Carlos Restrepo, and came out of the meeting as if I had just gone to the doctor and found out I had cancer. I haven't recovered from this meeting yet, it was extremely discouraging", he explained.

Lecompte maintained that, during his meeting with Restrepo, he confirmed that the issue of the liberation of those kidnapped "is neither relevant nor urgent" for the Executive branch of the government, which on other occasions has expressed a willingness to discuss a humanitarian exchange.

"If you're lucky, the issue of kidnappings ranks number 20 or 30 among the government's priorities; at least so it seems", Lecompte said.

"Yesterday I could confirm this reality, and to me it seems outrageous. As a Colombian citizen, I cannot accept the fact that these people are left to fate, totally abandoned, that the passage of time alone will determine what happens to them ", he concluded.

*******************************

(Translation by Ana-Cecilia Rosado, Laura Trinidad, and Tony Affigne, from articles in El Tiempo-Bogotá)