Why was betancourt kidnapped

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. ON TV. On social media. Who are we? Fight the Fake. Daily newsletter Receive essential international news every morning Subscribe. After they were freed, Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen, moved to Europe and has stayed out of Colombian politics.

Colombian politics remain a risky occupation, so why would Rojas jump back in? In an interview, the year-old Rojas said running for office is another way to move forward and leave behind the painful past.

If you always consider yourself a victim, you will never take responsibility for your life. Twelve years ago, Rojas was campaigning with her close friend Betancourt, who made the foolhardy decision to stump for votes in a rebel stronghold in southern Colombia.

The rebels planned to use the women as bargaining chips and exchange them for imprisoned FARC fighters. Rojas was then She feared she would be held hostage for years and lose the chance to become a mother. So, in a jungle prison camp that held dozens of other hostages, Rojas started a consensual relationship with one of her rebel guards and became pregnant. Though a jungle pregnancy was risky, the hostages lived with risks every day: tropical diseases, snake bites and the possibility of being killed in clashes between the FARC and the Colombian army.

Still, it was an extremely controversial decision. She was rescued in June when the Colombian army deceived the FARC with a fictitious humanitarian operation after infiltrating secret communications.

Three members of the U. The FARC in recognized for the first time its responsibility for the kidnapping, and in April rebels accepted before the postwar tribunal the accusation for crimes against humanity. We are truly sorry and hope that some time they can forgive us for the unspeakable damage inflicted. The investigations by the tribunal have concluded that the FARC subjected its victims to torture, sexual violence, forced displacement and attacks on their personal dignity.

The kidnappings were used to finance their operations with the ransom they demanded from families of the victims, force the exchange of imprisoned guerrilla members and control territories.