Ex-FARC leader Jesus Santrich killed in Venezuela, dissident group says
By Julia Symmes Cobb
Reuters
BOGOTA (Reuters) -Jesus Santrich, one of the most prominent leaders of a group of Colombia s former FARC rebels who reject a 2016 peace accord, has been killed in Venezuela in an operation by Colombia s military, former FARC dissidents said late on Tuesday.
Santrich was traveling by a truck in Venezuela when it was attacked by Colombian commandos the dissident group, which calls itself the Segunda Marquetalia, said in a statement.
Santrich, who initially backed the 2016 peace deal, was wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges and had long been thought to be based in Venezuela.
Colombian ex-guerrilla Santrich believed dead in Venezuela
By IANS |
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Colombian ex-guerrilla Santrich believed dead in Venezuela. Image Source: IANS News
Rio De Janeiro, May 19 : An ex-commander of the former Colombian guerrilla movement FARC is believed to have been killed in Venezuela, Defence Minister Diego Molano said.
Molano on Tuesday said that intelligence information indicated that Seuxis Hernandez, alias Jesus Santrich, was killed with other criminals in clashes in Venezuela on Monday.
The Defence Minister tweeted that the information was being verified but, if confirmed, it would prove that drug dealers are taking refuge in Venezuela.
Santrich was among the former FARC leaders that helped negotiate the 2016 peace deal that ended Colombia s 52-year conflict with the guerrilla movement and led to the demobilization of 7,000 fighters, DPA reported.
Embattled Defense Minister Diego Molano said anti-government protesters were behind the deadly violence, but was contradicted by locals who said police were responsible for incinerating the plant.
The video of the military colluding with rioters adds credibility to the locals’ claim and further eroded the credibility of Molano, who was already facing a motion of no confidence.
Tengo mucha, pero mucha indignación al ver este video
¿Por qué hay hombres armados al lado de miembros de @Col Ejercito en #Yumbo?
!!Por qué razón estos soldados no protegen a los ciudadanos y a la Alcaldía de Yumbo!! pic.twitter.com/Cq24WG3spa
May 18, 2021
President Ivan Duque called on the maximum deployment of Colombia’s security forces while his peace commissioner rejected strike leaders’ demands to end the violent repression of peaceful protests.
In a televised address, Duque ordered the security forces’ maximum deployment claiming that “there is a clear criminal interest” behind roadblocks that have been put up in the southwest of the country.
There exists no evidence of any involvement of criminal organizations or guerrilla groups in the protests.
The president made the announcement while the organizers of national strikes were in a meeting with Peace Commissioner Miguel Ceballos who rejected demands to end police brutality.