“I am very, very worried for Ingird, as are all her supporters in Australia. I met her briefly in 2001, when she spoke at the first Global Greens Conference in Canberra. Her courage and strength had a profound effect on me and all who met her”, said Ms Pennicuik.

“The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that France, Spain and Switzerland have stepped up efforts to bring about Ingrid’s release”, she said.

“I have written to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to ask them to speak to the Colombian Consul General in Australia about Ingrid and the other hostages”, she said.

In a letter to her mother late last year, Ingrid wrote “I am tired, tired of suffering, I have been - or tried to be - strong. ... I have had many battles, I have tried to escape at several opportunities, I have tried to maintain hope, as one keeps one's head above water. .. I want to think that one day I'll get out of here, but I know that what happened to the
diputados [the eleven provincial legislators, held hostage since 2002, who were killed in June], which hurt me greatly, could happen to me at any moment. I think this would be a relief for everyone. . . . this is a very hard moment for me. I am in poor shape physically. I have not been eating. My appetite is blocked. My hair is falling out in large quantities. I have no desire to do anything. I think that last one is the only good one: not wanting to do anything. Because here in the jungle, the only response is "NO". It is better, then, not to want anything, to be free, at least, of desires. . .

A Colombian hostage released in February reported that Ingird was in poor health and very low spririts. He said that they tried to escape and we were captured. The repression was very tough. They kept us chained to a tree all the time. They punished us. Especially Ingrid. As she was the best known of us, she got the worst conditions. He said that when he suffered a heart attack and three diabetic comas, it was Ms Betancourt who took care of him.

“Reports since then have confirmed that she is gravely ill, suffering from hepatitis B and leishmania, a serious and potentailly fatal skin disease caused by insect bites. It is critical that Ingrid is released immediately so that she can receive the medical attention that she so urgently needs, not to mention being reunited with her loved ones”, said Ms Pennicuik.

For more information, contact Sue Pennicuik 0407 000 270