World

Betancourt rescue video emerges

by julianw | July 4, 2008 at 04:21 pm

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A video taken by one of the Columbian military agents on hand during the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt has surfaced on YouTube. Watch as Betancourt and the fourteen other hostages are handcuffed and marched towards a helicopter. Betancourt, still unaware she is being rescued, appears indignant at being forced to wear handcuffs. She later recalled feeling drained and hopeless.

"My heart broke because I did not want another transfer, another time, in captivity," Betancourt said soon after her rescue.

One of the most striking moments in the video takes place at 2:23, when the camera swivels around to face a group of 20 armed guerillas encircling the area. Moments later, the camera cuts out as the hostages board the helicopter (the cameraman is apparently helping to arrest the two real FARC members not collaborating with the rescue mission). The camera cuts back to show the hostages being told they've been freed.

The videotape does not include the moment when the two real FARC members aboard the helicopter were taken into custody, because the cameraman participated in that effort, Montoya said.

"They just let go of the camera," he said. "They had their job to do."

But it resumes rolling immediately afterward as the 15 longtime hostages are told they are actually in the hands of the national army.

"The helicopter started flying and suddenly there was something happening," Betancourt said Wednesday. "Suddenly I saw the commander who, during four years, had been at the head of our team, who so many times was so cruel and humiliated me, and I saw him on the floor naked with bound eyes." Then, the reality of her liberation hit home.

On the video, an ecstatic Betancourt erupts: "Oh, my God!" Thank you so much, God! Thank you so much! We never thought this would happen!