The husband of a Colombian presidential candidate who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was in Ireland today to raise awareness of his wife’s plight.
Juan Carlos Lecompte’s wife, Ingrid Betancourt, was a Green Party candidate in the last presidential elections in Colombia and has been held by the FARC since on 23 February 2002.
Mr Lecompte was launching his book entitled Au nom d'Ingrid( On behalf of Ingrid) describing their life prior to her kidnapping.
He met with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Noel Treacy, in Galway this afternoon.
During the meeting Minister Treacy said the Government shares Mr Lecompte’s concern about the plight of his wife and other kidnap victims in Colombia.
"Ireland, together with our EU partners, strongly condemns the practice of hostage-taking and kidnapping and we call upon all illegal armed groups in Colombia to release hostages immediately and unconditionally," the Minister said.
Mr Lecompte’s visit to Ireland was hosted by the Ingrid Betancourt Comittee Dublin.
