Colombian rebels free French reporter after month in captivity

31 May 2012 05:13 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Colombia's FARC guerrillas freed French reporter Romeo Langlois on Wednesday, a month after taking him hostage in a firefight that showed the leftist group is still a menace despite a decade of military blows.

Langlois, the rebels' highest-profile captive since French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, was taken hostage in the southern Caqueta region on April 28 after he was caught in crossfire between a Colombian military unit he was embedded with and heavily armed FARC rebels.

The 35-year-old walked with members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who were dressed in camouflage, into a crowd of villagers, many of whom took pictures with their cellular phones.

"I was never tied up. They treated me rather like a guest. They gave me good food ... they were always very respectful," the France 24 freelance journalist told reporters at the scene in a hamlet deep in the jungle.

"I can't complain."

The Red Cross issued a statement saying the reporter was in good health, despite a wound he suffered in his left arm during the initial crossfire.

Langlois berated the rebels for holding him for 33 days and urged the media to pay more attention to Latin America's longest-running insurgency.

"There should be more journalists reporting with the guerrillas to show their day-to-day life," he said, before blaming poverty and underdevelopment in remote rural areas for a civil conflict that has killed tens of thousands over the decades.

Some of Langlois' comments were applauded by hundreds of villagers who came out to watch his release. The FARC operate in remote areas where lack of education and opportunities fuel support for the rebels.

The FARC has accused Colombia's government of manipulating journalists to bend public opinion against them and had called for a debate on freedom of information as a condition for Langlois' release.

In France, President Francois Hollande celebrated Langlois' release as a moment of "joy" and "relief". "My thoughts also go out to our other compatriots that are still held and for which the government is working to get released."

France has seven other citizens held overseas, including six in the Sahel region of Africa and one intelligence officer in Somalia.

The last French citizen seized by the FARC was Betancourt, who was rescued by Colombian military in 2008 after six years in jungle captivity.

STILL STRONG

The FARC started as a Marxist peasant movement in the 1960s and later turned to kidnapping, extortion and drug smuggling to finance their insurgency. The European Union and United States have labeled the FARC a terrorist group.

A U.S.-funded military crackdown has weakened the rebels in recent years, prompting signs that they may be willing to engage in peace talks.

President Juan Manuel Santos has said he will not consider peace talks until the group ceases all attacks against military and civilian targets and frees all captives.

The FARC's involvement in the cocaine trade, however, provides it with plenty of funds to stay strong in remote jungle areas and it has stepped up attacks in recent months.

The rebels are suspected of being behind a bomb attack earlier this month against former Interior Minister Fernando Londono in the capital, Bogota. Londono survived the blast, but his driver and a bodyguard were killed.

FARC guerrillas also killed 12 soldiers in an ambush on an army unit near the Venezuelan border last week, and they have carried out a string of bomb attacks against oil infrastructure.

Both sides are accused of rights abuses during the conflict. Soldiers allegedly killed civilians then dressed them as rebels to give the impression they were beating their enemies, and the FARC has kidnapped hundreds of civilians for ransom.

(Additional reporting John Irish in Paris; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Paul Simao)

(Source : Reuters)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Colombian rebels free French reporter after month in captivity

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

New Visa procedure implemented

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

MIRROR CRICKET

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

United States and SL Navy collaborate in CARAT 2024 exercise in Trincomalee

Upcountry estate workers stage a token strike

People have already selected Ranil for Presidency: Prasanna

Construction work for India-funded 10,000 housing units commenced

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations