Ingrid Betancourt arrived unannounced in Bogotá this past Saturday, coming home for the first time since her July 2 escape from the FARC. The former Colombian senator and presidential candidate returned to France immediately after her escape, and although she continued to work for the anti-kidnapping cause (in addition to making friends with the Pope), she had not announced any plans to return to the country where anti-government rebels held her captive for six years. Which is why her return to Colombia — and the subsequent announcement of her plans to tour South America as part of an anti-kidnapping campaign — came as a shock to many.

She had led a march in Madrid the Friday before her departure and, upon her arrival in Bogotá, announced plans to continue her anti-kidnapping efforts via a multi-national tour that she will make along with Colombia’s president, Alvaro Uribe. At a press conference in Bogotá, Betancourt appealed to FARC to release the captives they are still holding, and spoke of the need to continue looking for innovative ways to negotiate their release.

Betancourt also met with the relatives of other kidnapping victims, and emphasized the important role support from regional leaders plays in the struggle to facilitate communication or rescue efforts.

Understandably, Betancourt is still shaken by her kidnapping and has made security her first priority; she travels with a bodyguard and requires her staff to review
security strategies with her before every move she makes.

“When they tell me that I’m completely secure I say, ‘OK, explain to me what is completely secure, what exactly is the plan, tell me exactly how many people there will be.’ If there is a march, are they going to search the buildings where I’m going to march? Or I won’t go.”

She did make her stay in Bogotá relatively short, as she admitted that she still had a lot of residual fear about being in Colombia, but we’re pretty sure that if anyone held us in the jungle for six years, we’d be shivering violently under our bed, swinging a switch blade at anyone who came within reach, so Betancourt has our vote for Brave Lady of the year.

It will be especially interesting to see how Betancourt tries to involve the Obama administration in her fight to free the kidnapped, if at all. She had previously expressed her opinion that it was essential to have a show of international solidarity against FARC, but did not comment on whether she thought the U.S. should continue to lend Colombia any military support, as it does now. She did say she was “thrilled” about Obama, but didn’t think he was up to speed on the “other” America;

“I’m not sure that Obama knows much about Latin America,” said the former presidential candidate, chuckling.

Oh my. Poor Obama, at least he doesn’t think Zapatero is the same as the Zapatistas. Can the White House hand-over come sooner, please?? We need us some juicy Betancourt-Obama sound bites.

Betancourt on anti-kidnap mission [Al Jazeera]

Ex-hostage Betancourt on her fears [Associated Press]