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After five days of her dramatic release being toasted, a backlash against Ingrid Betancourt yesterday was tainting the euphoria that has elevated the former Colombian hostage to saintlike status.
The French Senate gave an emotional standing ovation to the 46-year-old politician and magazines and television were still saturated by the image of what Paris Match called “the new global icon”.
But dissent surrounding Ms Betancourt, who was freed last week from the Colombian jungle after six years in captivity, has now spread from the internet to mainstream opinion, with some saying that France has overdosed on “Ingridmania”.
“It is irritating,” said Dominique Dhombres, a television columnist for Le Monde newspaper. “It’s a beautiful story about a beautiful woman, but she has been turned into the Madonna of modern times . . . Everything else has been forgotten and it suits Sarkozy fine,” he told The Times.
Mr Dhombres noted what the Paris Establishment was saying but the media had not mentioned: Ms Betancourt benefited from rivalry between two men: President Sarkozy and Dominique de Villepin, the last French Prime Minister, who is a close friend of the former captive.
After Mr de Villepin’s campaigning, diplomacy and secret military operations failed to free Ms Betancourt from her rebel captors, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), Mr Sarkozy made her release a personal priority when he won office last year.
Ms Betancourt thanked the President for “saving her life” when she arrived in Paris on Friday after Colombian armed forces secured her release. Mr de Villepin was not admitted to the airport welcoming party, led by Mr Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, his wife. So he staged his own media show, taking Ms Betancourt to lunch before cameras on the Left Bank on Sunday.
The freeing of Ms Betancourt, who holds dual nationality by virtue of a former marriage to a French diplomat, prompted a wave of joy of a kind unseen in France since the 1998 World Cup football victory. The emotion was primed by years of public campaigning for a Paris-educated human rights activist with ties to the Paris elite and Mr de Villepin in particular.
The French had been carried away by propaganda into “a consensual high mass”, wrote Daniel Schneidermann, a media columnist for Libération newspaper.
No one is questioning the courage of the woman whose resilience during six years of jungle captivity has drawn wide admiration. Yesterday politicians in the French Senate rose to greet a tearful Ms Betancourt. Critics are irked by what they see as compliant excess by a media beholden to a President who is keen to control it and make the most of her story.
Her media beatification has prompted harsher criticism on the internet.
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Ingrid seems sadly too political minded now and far from the day of her liberation when she said to be one more soldier of Colombia. Not to join the July 20th demonstration in Colombia? France saved her life? Either she could not control herself the 1st day, or changed too much for bad in 10 days!
Miguel Londono, Medellin, Colombia
It is important to know that Ingrid Betancourt is not the only one release from the FARC thank to President Uribe and the Arm Forces. Her family had benefit from her dual nationality. I would like to see all the 11 soldiers in the european press. They were 10 years in the jungle.
nena, bogota, colombia
Sarkozy basks in the glory, which is why the French media have been giving this story such saturation coverage. Maybe we should be grateful as it has distracted their attention away from the brutal murders of the two French students in London, with that story being given only secondary coverage.
Paul, Coventry,
I agree with John, Margaret and Maggie.
This entire family (and many other hostages) have been victimized by the FARC. Ingrid's tragedy has turned to triumph. I will enjoy the triumph with them...I am completely overjoyed that they have their loved one back. I'm grateful that she is tenacious.
Diana, Seattle, USA
John Morgan from Old Stratford, U.K.
Margaret from Austin, U.S.A.
Maggie from Brittany, France
Have you actually read what you've written? You all need to get some first-hand experience of being kidnapped. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Marc, Paris, France
I would love to see these French journalists spending six years in the jungle, or better their cousins (Ingrid been one of my cousins), chained to the trees , abused mentally and physically (way more than anything published) Easy for her? Many French legionaires have died trying to save her...
Jean-Claude Romanino Garcia, Devizes, United Kingdom
Villepin hasn't "staged his own media show", it is Ingrid who wanted to make this public !
Stop being so biased Mr Bremmer !
Da silva, lille, france
Get yourself kidnapped or imprisoned for a long time and you are set for the rest of your life. She will never have to work again.
John Morgan, Old Stratford, United Kingdom
John Carty, oh puleeeze, Mandela all over again ? how can you possibly compare 6 years to 27 ?
I am beginning to think her captivity was easier than we are led to believe,she could even write letters !
Without doubt her release has a taint of political maneuvering about it, such perfect timing.
maggie millington, brittany, france
I suggest you all read a letter she wrote while still in captivity, http://www.ingridbetancourt-idf.com/The-extracts-of-Ingrid-Betancourt.html Media coverage aside, she is very brave. Prior to the kidnapping, she was one of the few politicians who stood up to the corrupt government & drug cartels.
Roberto Trama, Aptos, USA
French rivalry! Get over yourselves! The story is much bigger than French politicians. We can only observe and judge the fallout. This could be Nelson Mandela all over again.
And who could begrudge her?
John Carty, Medellin, Colombia
She thanked everyone, including Venezuela (and indirectly Hugo Chavez who was manipulating the hostages) and Equador but not the United States. Actually the U.S. was getting THEIR hostages back and she happened to be part of the package. She has yet to thank the United States. She's a socialist.
Margaret, Austin, TX, USA
Chained to a tree in the jungle for years on end and the vultures begin circling shortly AFTER her rescue. Welcome back to civilization Ingrid. We can defile anything no matter how noble.
geoff bob, miami, usa
Typical post traumatic stress attitude by Ms Betancourt...expressing sympathy and even support for her kidnappers. Textbook example of how a kidnap victim who is in confinement for months or years often ends up indirectly or even directly expressing support for the criminals.
Stephen, El Paso, Texas, USA
Kudos to her. She did good but so have a lot of other people
in the face of adversity.
Take note folks on what the media can do for you if
it wants to - and it can go the other way.
Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA