Greens Leader Bob Brown has appealed to the Australian Government to urge restraint on Columbian President Alvaro Aribe, who has ordered his military to rescue Ingrid Betancourt from rebel guerrillas. (see attached BBC news story)
 
Senator Brown has sent this message to Foreign Minister Alexander  Downer:
 
 
Dear Minister,
 
Please urgently contact Columbian President Uribe and urge him to use restraint in finding former Greens Senator Ingrid Betancourt.
 
I am a friend of Ms Betancourt and have met her family and know how much they oppose a military action which might threaten her life.
 
Yours sincerely,
Bob Brown
 
Senator Brown went to Bogota in 2002, after her kidnapping, to campaign for her release.
 
Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603