I feel for Ingrid Betancourt — I was kidnapped, too

I was once kidnapped and held hostage by political terrorists in South America. My ordeal only lasted about an hour — but it was rather frightening. Like Ingrid Betancourt, it was partly my own fault for ignoring obvious security advice. Unlike her, I was able to talk my way out of it. It is hard to imagine the six years of continuous terror and abuse this doughty lady experienced at the hands of the Marxist terrorist group, FARC, in Colombia. Her release, in a bold exercise by the Colombian Armed Forces, is, rightly, a matter of universal rejoicing and a triumph for President Uribe.

This remarkable rescue sends an encouraging message to the free world, poses some interesting questions, and it is hoped may raise the level of interest in Britain towards this democratic, civilised, friendly state.

Democratic? Civilised? Friendly? Yes. Yes. Yes. Colombia is the oldest democracy in Latin America. Ever since independence was won in the battle of Boyacá in 1819 Colombia (with one two-year interruption) has been a democratic country. But it had the misfortune that, when the Berlin Wall collapsed and left-wing terrorist groups lost the support of the Soviet Union, the drug money came on stream in a big way, enabling FARC to continue to fund their criminal activities. Civilised? How else to describe the country of Gabriel Garcia Márquez and Botero; a country in one of whose great cities, Cartagena, the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival was held; one of the few countries that has never defaulted on a sovereign debt and, where, by common consent, the finest and most refined Spanish in the world is spoken. Friendly? At the Battle of Boyacá, under the leadership of Simón Bolivar, the British Legion fought with a distinction that led the Liberator to describe Britain as Saviours of America. Colombians do not forget that.