Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian politician who was held hostage by rebels for more than six years before being rescued by the army, has sued the state over her kidnapping.
The suit seeks $6.6m (£4.4m) in damages for emotional stress and loss of earnings while she was being held in secret jungle camps by the guerrillas.
Ms Betancourt, who also has French citizenship, was snatched by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, while campaigning for president in 2002. State security officials had warned her against entering the rural area, which was being fought over by troops and the leftist guerrillas.
Details of the suit outlining why she believes the state should be held responsible were not available.
She returned to Colombia from France for several hours last week to celebrate the anniversary of her release. In July 2008, Ms Betancourt's Farc jailers were duped into handing her and 14 other hostages, including three US anti-drug contractors, over to soldiers masquerading as members of a humanitarian group that had volunteered to fly them by helicopter to a new location.
The rescue was a humiliating blow to the Farc, which has been pressed on to the defensive by a US-backed military campaign aimed at crushing the insurgency.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments