Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt wants to call 23 witnesses to support her $6.5 million claim against the Colombian government for the physical and emotional damage suffered in her six-year captivity by FARC rebels, radio station Caracol reported Friday.
The radio station claims to possess the 55-page document wherein the French-Colombian politician defends her claim.
Among the witnesses Betancourt wants to call are former fellow hostages like U.S. military contractor Marc Gonsalves and former senator Luis Eladio Perez. Betancourt also wants the testimony of a doctor at a military hopital in Marseille, France.
According to Caracol, the former hostage demands $750 thousand for damages suffered during her captivity, $250 thousand for the suffering imposed on her late father, $750 thousand for psychological damage and $700 thousand for income missed in the six years she was held in the Colombian jungle.
In a seperate document, Betancourt’s family claims the right to compensation for similar damages, the radiostation said.
Betancourt’s claim led to angry reactions in Colombia. Vice-president Francisco Santos called Betancourt’s petition “greedy, ungrateful and opportunistic, which deserves the rejection of all Colombians and world opinion.”
On news websites and social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, Colombians responded with anger and indignation to the claim.
Betancourt was kidnapped by FARC rebels on February 23, 2002 when she was on presidential campaign in FARC-controlled territory the southern Caqueta department. She was rescued by Colombian armed forces on July 2, 2008.
