Yolanda Pulecio
Encyclopedia
Yolanda Pulecio Vélez also known as "Mamá Yolanda" (born December 31, 1939) is a Colombia
n former beauty queen
turned politician
, former member of the Congress of Colombia
and diplomat. Pulecio married former minister of finance and diplomat Gabriel Betancourt. Pulecio is the mother of Astrid Betancourt and French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt
who spent six and a half years in captivity after being kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
until July 2 when she was rescued by the Colombian Armed Forces in Operation Jaque
, 2008.
pageant in representation of the Department of Cundinamarca
. She then founded the Hogares Infantiles de Bogotá (Bogotá Children's Shelter) a foundation to help the poor children of Bogotá which has been functioning since 1958.
of Colombia in France
. The family went to live in Neuilly-sur-Seine
, a suburb of Paris
. They lived in France for 5 years until 1966.
In 1966 then President of Colombia Carlos Lleras appointed her husband as Minister of Education and returned to Colombia. Back in Colombia, Pulecio was appointed by the then Mayor of Bogotá, Virgilio Barco as Director of the Social Welfare Department of Bogotá. In 1969 her husband Gabriel was appointed as Ambassador of Colombia to the UNESCO
and the family returned to live in Paris, France. Their daughters, Astrid and Íngrid, studied at the Institut de l’Assomption, as well as a boarding school in England.
divorced. She was widely criticized in Colombia for this. Her daughter Ingrid later wrote about this: "She separated from her husband to recover her active role in society, but she found herself judged, in defamation, criticized and condemned by the Colombian society of the time."
Pulecio has criticized both presidents Andrés Pastrana and Álvaro Uribe
for not doing enough for the release of the hostages, as well as not collaborating on achieving a possible humanitarian exchange
of prisoners for hostages between the government and the FARC guerrilla. When senator of Colombia, Piedad Cordoba
and President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez
were named as facilitator
s by the government of Álvaro Uribe, Pulecio supported their initiatives alleging that they had achieved in a few months what had not been done in 5 years of the kidnapping of her daughter. Regardless, they were not able to secure her release.
After the rescue of her daughter in "Operación Jaque" Operation Jaque
(carried out by the Colombian army via an order of President Álvaro Uribe
with the assistance of military intellgience operatives of the USA), Pulecio left Colombia and moved to France. She has received some criticism from several Colombian organizations for "forgetting the rest of the kidnapped people once Ingrid was rescued". 2 years later in July of 2010, her daughter Ingrid Betancourt filed suit against the Republic of Colombia for "economic hardship and moral damage" during the time she was kidnapped. After great public disapproval and vocal opposition by the government, Ingrid Betancourt then withdrew her lawsuit. The role her mother Yolanda Pulecio played in this, if any, is unclear.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n former beauty queen
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
turned politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, former member of the Congress of Colombia
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
and diplomat. Pulecio married former minister of finance and diplomat Gabriel Betancourt. Pulecio is the mother of Astrid Betancourt and French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt
Íngrid Betancourt
Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio is a Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist.Betancourt was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on 23 February 2002 and was rescued by Colombian security forces six and a half years later on 2 July 2008...
who spent six and a half years in captivity after being kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
until July 2 when she was rescued by the Colombian Armed Forces in Operation Jaque
Operation Jaque
Operation Jaque was a Colombian military operation that resulted in the freedom of 15 hostages, including former Colombian presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt. The hostages had been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia . The operation took place on July 2, 2008, along the...
, 2008.
Miss Colombia
In 1955 Pulecio participated in the Miss ColombiaMiss Colombia
Señorita Colombia is an annual national beauty contest in Colombia that selects representatives to Miss Universe and Miss International...
pageant in representation of the Department of Cundinamarca
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
. She then founded the Hogares Infantiles de Bogotá (Bogotá Children's Shelter) a foundation to help the poor children of Bogotá which has been functioning since 1958.
Life between France and Colombia
In 1961, her husband Gabriel Betancourt, whom she had married in 1959 was appointed as Adjutant Director of the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
of Colombia in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The family went to live in Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, a suburb of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. They lived in France for 5 years until 1966.
In 1966 then President of Colombia Carlos Lleras appointed her husband as Minister of Education and returned to Colombia. Back in Colombia, Pulecio was appointed by the then Mayor of Bogotá, Virgilio Barco as Director of the Social Welfare Department of Bogotá. In 1969 her husband Gabriel was appointed as Ambassador of Colombia to the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the family returned to live in Paris, France. Their daughters, Astrid and Íngrid, studied at the Institut de l’Assomption, as well as a boarding school in England.
Divorce and return to Colombia
Pulecio felt nostalgia for the children of her foundation and decided to return to Colombia. In Colombia she developed an interest to participate in politics and she and her husband Gabriel BetancourtGabriel Betancourt
Gabriel Betancourt Mejía was a Colombian economist and diplomat who served as Colombia's Minister of National Education in two occasions, and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.-Early life:...
divorced. She was widely criticized in Colombia for this. Her daughter Ingrid later wrote about this: "She separated from her husband to recover her active role in society, but she found herself judged, in defamation, criticized and condemned by the Colombian society of the time."
Kidnapping of Ingrid
Her daughter Ingrid was kidnapped on the road to San Vicente. Since the kidnapping of her daughter Ingrid by the violent FARC guerrilla group while campaigning for the presidency of Colombia, Pulecio has been advocating for her release and the hundreds of others held as hostages.Pulecio has criticized both presidents Andrés Pastrana and Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
for not doing enough for the release of the hostages, as well as not collaborating on achieving a possible humanitarian exchange
Humanitarian exchange
The Humanitarian Exchange or Humanitarian Accord refers to the possible accord to exchange hostages for prisoners between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrilla group and the Government of Colombia....
of prisoners for hostages between the government and the FARC guerrilla. When senator of Colombia, Piedad Cordoba
Piedad Córdoba
Piedad Esneda Córdoba Ruiz , better known by her nom de guerre Teodora de Bolívar or Gaitán is a former Liberal Senator of Colombia who served for four terms from 1994 to 2010, and a former Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
and President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
were named as facilitator
Facilitator
A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve them without taking a particular position in the discussion...
s by the government of Álvaro Uribe, Pulecio supported their initiatives alleging that they had achieved in a few months what had not been done in 5 years of the kidnapping of her daughter. Regardless, they were not able to secure her release.
After the rescue of her daughter in "Operación Jaque" Operation Jaque
Operation Jaque
Operation Jaque was a Colombian military operation that resulted in the freedom of 15 hostages, including former Colombian presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt. The hostages had been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia . The operation took place on July 2, 2008, along the...
(carried out by the Colombian army via an order of President Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
with the assistance of military intellgience operatives of the USA), Pulecio left Colombia and moved to France. She has received some criticism from several Colombian organizations for "forgetting the rest of the kidnapped people once Ingrid was rescued". 2 years later in July of 2010, her daughter Ingrid Betancourt filed suit against the Republic of Colombia for "economic hardship and moral damage" during the time she was kidnapped. After great public disapproval and vocal opposition by the government, Ingrid Betancourt then withdrew her lawsuit. The role her mother Yolanda Pulecio played in this, if any, is unclear.