Pay your taxes, FARC hostage told

BBC ^ | 6 November 2004 | BBC

[LurkedLongEnough]

Tax authorities in Colombia have apologised for demanding a tax return from a woman politician held captive by Marxist rebels for almost three years. Ingrid Betancourt, 42, was seized by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels in February 2002 while campaigning for the presidency.

She has been held captive in a secret jungle jail ever since.

Tax officials described a letter posted to Ms Betancourt asking for her to file a tax return as "an unwitting error".

The letter asked Ms Betancourt, who is a dual Colombian and French national, to disclose her financial affairs for the year 2003.

As is public knowledge, she has been kidnapped and so cannot be required to pay her taxes

But the tax department insisted the letter had been sent as part of a nationwide drive to prompt payments, and that Ms Betancourt had not been directly targeted.

"It was a lamentable error and for that reason we offer our apologies to Ms Betancourt's family," said Mario Aranguren, director of the Colombian tax department.

"It was an unwitting error in a mass mail drop," the department added in a statement.

"As is public knowledge, she has been kidnapped and so cannot be required to pay her taxes."

Kidnapping rife

Because of the high numbers of kidnappings in Colombia, the government has instructed financial authorities not to tax people held hostage.

They have also asked employers to continue paying their wages.

Ms Betancourt was snatched by FARC rebels while at a roadblock.

The rebels want to swap Ms Betancourt and 71 other hostages for guerrilla fighters held in government prisons.

According to the Colombian government FARC currently holds around 1,600 hostages, including around 20 politicians, 47 army officers and three Americans.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Kidnapping is a nuisance. However, kidnapped people are worth government harrassment because they are still being paid by their employers.

Huh?

[Paul C. Jesup]

Tax authorities in Colombia have apologised for demanding a tax return from a woman politician held captive by Marxist rebels for almost three years.

I would bet real money that after this stunt by the Colombia Government that she might willingly ACTUALLY join the rebels.

[Atlantic Friend]

And they get free housing and free food, the dirty little ingrates.

[atomicpossum]

What's that quote from Apollo 13? "That's no joke. They'll jump on [her]."

[OKIEDOC]

Having lived in Colombia for five years I can tell you that Ingrid Betancourt was one of those pacifists (Give Peace A Chance) types. This in itself lent much support for the 40 plus year civil war by both the drug lords and the Marxists rebels.

Two years ago the Colombian people finally wised up and elected President Uribe, a hard line right wing Bush type for a president.

Colombian liberals like US liberals wrung their hands in grief after the election. However, over the last year a boom in construction and employment has started to take place. Many of Uribes detractors are no singing a different tune. Once more it is becoming safe to travel outside the major cities.

I feel for Betancourt but don't put to much stock in this story. Betancourt would set these rebels free if she was president.