COLOMBIA: Newfound Hope on Sixth Anniversary of Ingrid’s Kidnapping

The sensation on the sixth anniversary of the kidnapping of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt by the FARC guerrillas differs significantly from the utter pessimism of previous years. "Today there is hope," her husband Juan Carlos Lecompte told IPS.

COLOMBIA: 131 Cities on Five Continents Join Anti-FARC Demonstration

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated Monday in 131 cities on five continents, including more than 50 Colombian cities, to demand peace and protest against the FARC guerrillas and kidnapping.

COLOMBIA: Hostages’ Release, Seen from the Other Side

While the international spotlight was shined on two women hostages released by Colombia’s FARC guerrillas, IPS interviewed by telephone a woman who reflects the other side of the hostage crisis.

COLOMBIA: Hostage Release “Blasted”

- "Uribe, reflect, my brother, let’s work for peace," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez when the release of three hostages by Colombia’s FARC guerrillas was postponed over the New Year’s holidays.

RIGHTS-COLOMBIA: No Immediate End to Kidnap Victims’ Pain

While the eyes of the world are on the imminent release of three hostages held by Colombia’s FARC guerrillas, hundreds of other kidnapping victims in this South American country are living their own personal nightmares, but outside the glare of the spotlight.

RIGHTS-COLOMBIA: Walking from Bogota to Caracas for Peace

After walking 800 km from Bogota, Colombian teacher Gustavo Moncayo, known as the "peace walker", crossed into Venezuela on his way to Caracas. Escorted by hundreds of supporters, the 55-year-old Moncayo was handed a torch, and a Venezuelan flag was draped around his shoulders.

COLOMBIA: FARC to Release Three Hostages to Chavez

The leaders of Colombia’s FARC guerrillas ordered the release of two women hostages and the young son of one of them as a gesture of "compensation" for the frustrated facilitation efforts made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba, and of goodwill towards the hostages’ families.

COLOMBIA: Jail the Messenger

The treatment given to messengers has sparked wars or has been seen as a sign of political will and mutual trust and confidence.

COLOMBIA: Chavez Asks Uribe for Patience in Hostage Talks

"Impatience is not a good thing," Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez responded to the Colombian government’s announcement of a December deadline for his efforts to broker an agreement for an exchange of imprisoned guerrillas for hostages held by the rebels.

COLOMBIA: Pawns of War – The Hostage Crisis

"Mr. President, we who are going to die send you our greetings." The Sept. 26, 2006 message, addressed to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, came from a hostage held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), along with eleven other provincial legislators, since April 2002.

COLOMBIA: Inquiry Fails to Clear Up Mystery of Hostages’ Deaths

"We didn’t need an International Forensic Commission to tell us this was homicide. The Organisation of American States (OAS) report about the deaths of the legislators from Valle del Cauca (in Colombia) saddens and disappoints us," lawyer Faisury Perdomo told IPS.

COLOMBIA: FARC Hostages Died in Military-Rebel Shootout

The deaths of 11 of the 12 regional lawmakers being held hostage by Colombia’s FARC rebels may have occurred in the midst of fighting between the insurgents guarding the hostages and the "Junglas", an elite military unit, according to a reconstruction of events based on interviews by IPS.

COLOMBIA: The Truth Behind Ingrid Betancourt ‘Rescue Mission’

An exclusive journalistic investigation by IPS sought to get at the truth behind a supposed attempt by France to rescue former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped by the FARC guerrillas two years ago as of next Monday.