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Haba perdido toda mi libertad y, con ella, todo cuanto me importaba; alejada a la fuerza de mis hijos, de mi madre, de mi vida y de mis sueos; con el cuello encadenado a un rbol ... en condiciones de la ms infame humillacin, conservaba, no obstante, la ms preciosa de las libertades, que nadie podra arrebatarme jams: la de decidir quin quera ser. En 2002, Ingrid Betancourt, candidata presidencial de Colombia, fue secuestrada por la guerrilla de las FARC, cuando se diriga a San Vicente del Cagun, dos das despus de que en esta zona se finalizara la concesin otorgada por el presidente, en lo que se conoci como la "zona de distensin". Durante seis aos y medio Ingrid Betancourt soport todos los horrores de la selva: el encierro, las eternas marchas, la enfermedad, el hambre, la soledad, la humillacin, los enfrentamientos, el dolor, el olvido ... todo esto conservando siempre una integridad sin lmites, con una nica obsesin: la libertad. En su libro relata, en detalle, sus das en la selva: los complejos hilos de las relaciones personales entre los distintos prisioneros, la lucha por conseguir una racin de comida o la compaa de un diccionario, los tan anhelados minutos de comunicacin con su madre y sus hijos a travs de un programa radial, sus intentos de fuga, la muerte de su padre. As mismo da su visin acerca de todo aquello que rode su cautiverio: el da de su secuestro, las relaciones con los comandantes de las FARC, la posicin de Francia y su lucha por conseguir su liberacin, las negociaciones y los esfuerzos del gobierno y las autoridades colombianas. De una forma reflexiva y profunda Betancourt lleva de la mano al lector no solo a vivir en carne propia la humedad, la oscuridad y el olor de la selva, sino a sentir da tras da el torrente de sentimientos y emociones encontradas que all suceden. No hay silencio que no termine es un trasegar por la miseria y la grandeza humana: con sus encuentros y contradicciones, sus miedos y fragilidades, sus pequeos placeres y alegras simples, sus decepciones y devastaciones, su esperanza e inspiracin. El 2 de julio de 2008, en lo que se denomin como la Operacin Jaque, el Ejrcito colombiano la rescat en un impresionante operativo que le dio la vuelta al mundo, y que regres a la libertad a Ingrid Betancourt, junto a los tres contratistas norteamericanos, siete miembros del Ejrcito nacional y tres de la Polica. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Ingrid Betancourt tells the story of her captivity in the Colombian jungle, sharing powerful teachings of resilience, resistance, and faith. Born in Bogot, raised in France, Ingrid Betancourt at the age of thirty-two gave up a life of comfort and safety to return to Colombia to become a political leader in a country that was being slowly destroyed by terrorism, violence, fear, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness. In 2002, while campaigning as a candidate in the Colombian presidential elections, she was abducted by the FARC. Nothing could have prepared her for what came next. She would spend the next six and a half years in the depths of the jungle as a prisoner of the FARC. Even Silence Has an End is her deeply personal and moving account of that time. Chained day and night for much of her captivity, she never stopped dreaming of escape and, in fact, succeeded in getting away several times, always to be recaptured. In her most successful effort she and a fellow captive survived a week away, but were caught when her companion became desperately ill; she learned later that they had been mere miles from freedom. The facts of her story are astounding, but it is Betancourt's indomitable spirit that drives this very special account, bringing life, nuance, and profundity to the narrative. Attending as intimately to the landscape of her mind as she does to the events of her capture and captivity, Even Silence Has an End is a meditation on the very stuff of life-fear and freedom, hope and what inspires it. Betancourt tracks her metamorphosis, sharing how in the routines she established for herself-listening to her mother and two children broadcast to her over the radio, daily prayer-she was able to do the unthinkable: to move through the pain of the moment and find a place of serenity. Freed in 2008 by the Colombian army, today Betancourt is determined to draw attention to the plight of hostages and victims of terrorism throughout the world and it is that passion that motivates Even Silence Has an End. The lessons she offers here-in courage, resilience, and humanity-are gifts to treasure.
About the Author
Born December 25, 1961, in Bogotá, Colombia, Ingrid Betancourt was a politician and presidential candidate celebrated for her determination to combat widespread corruption. In 2002 she was taken hostage by the FARC, a brutal terrorist guerrilla organization. For more than six and a half years, the FARC held her hostage in the Colombian jungle. She was rescued on July 2, 2008.
