Ingrid Betancourt is a Colombian-French politician and formerly the world’s most famous hostage. She was kidnapped in 2002 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) while campaigning to be president. Her six years in captivity in the Colombian jungle attracted media attention worldwide. She was rescued in July 2008 in a daring operation by Colombian security forces.
Betancourt was born in Colombia’s capital Bogota in 1961. Her mother was a politician and former Miss Colombia. Her father was also a politician and was high up in UNESCO. Ingrid attendedelite schools in France, England and Colombia. After graduating, she married a fellow student and they had two children. Her diplomat husband meant she traveled constantly and lived in different countries.
Her political career began in 1990. She distributed condoms to the poor in her election campaign. Her motto was she would be like a condom against corruption. She was elected to government in 1994 and launched her Green Oxygen Party. Four years later she became a Senator. In February 2002, she ignored government warnings and tried to campaign in FARC-held territory.
The FARC had no plan to kidnap Betancourt. She walked straight into their hands. She became the FARC’s most valuable hostage. Her 2,321 days in captivity were full of reports about her ill health and wretched living conditions. A video released in 2007 showed her looking desperately frail. Following her daring rescue, she received the Legion of Honour from French President Sarkozy.
