Hostages' relatives to Colombia: You abandoned us

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Source: CNN

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- More than two months after former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others were rescued from FARC rebels, relatives of the thousands of remaining hostages say the government has abandoned them.

"Some people in political power in the country have said that it is necessary to lower the profile of the humanitarian accord, that it is necessary to speak softly," said Marlene Orjuela, a representative of the Association of Relatives of the Kidnapped.
"They know why they say it and we know why they say it -- because Ingrid Betancourt has left already, who is an important card."

At present, three politicians and 26 soldiers and police continue to be held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. They form part of the so-called group of "exchangeables" -- hostages who might be freed in exchange for the government freeing rebels held in Colombian jails.
Their relatives say that after the rescue operation that freed Betancourt, 11 soldiers and police and three Americans, the world appears to have turned its back on them.

"And the others?" asked Orjuela. "Don't they have importance even though they are not foreigners? Not politicians? Not rich? Yes, they have it because they have dignity, they have values and they are human beings."



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/09/colombia.forgotten.hostages/