Strasbourg, 23/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - Speaking for the Greens/EFA group of the European Parliament, French Green Alain Lipietz appealed for the liberation of the green activist and candidate for the 2004 Colombian presidential elections, Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped by the guerrilla movement FARC exactly three years ago. It is time for FARC to free Ingrid Betancourt unconditionally, said the MEP in a press release, calling also on President Uribe to “stop escalating the armed conflict which has already produced a tragically long list of victims” in his country. Mr Lipietz, who notes that Ingrid Betancourt is a “symbol of the struggle against corruption inside the Colombian institutions and in favour of a negotiated solution to the decades-long armed conflict in Colombia”, criticises President Uribe's “de facto amnesty” to the paramilitary forces with his reintegration programme. This “will extend them impunity for their past crimes”, he said. He stresses that the negotiation of a humanitarian agreement between the government and FARC is essential to free the 3,000 people currently held hostage and to ensure proper protection for the civil population as a whole.
Plenary session of the European Parliament