Recently Released Captive Holds Freedom Concert

After being released on July 2nd by Colombian armed forces aided by American, French and Israeli intelligence units, Ingrid Betancourt staged a concert in Paris, France on July 20th. The concert featured 30 artists, most notably musical artists Juanes, Miguel Bose, Renan Luce and Michel Delpech. Several thousand people attended the event, where Betancourt chanted “No more hostages!” in the hopes of freeing the reported 700 hostages still being held captive by the FARC. Around five million people were expected to take part in demonstrations Sunday in some 1,000 towns and cities across Colombia. Madrid and other European cities saw smaller support rallies for the hostages, but the main events were to be held later Sunday in Latin America, with the highlight expected to be a concert in Colombia by pop star Shakira. Abducted in 2002 while campaigning for the Colombian presidency, Betancourt is putting all her efforts to stir up world leaders and public opinion in order to peacefully and safely return the captives to their families. Having to go through such a dreadful experience herself, she knows what captives go through from a first hand account. After being reunited with her children, who live in Paris, she returned to France where her ordeal in the Colombian jungle had turned her into a cause celebre.