FARC for Peace, Social Justice

Paris, Feb 14 (Prensa Latina) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) called for a country without war after necessarysteps are taken to promote peace with social justice. "The future of Colombia cannot be one of war," declared comandanteRaul Reyes, reiterating the decision of the guerrilla organizationsto procure an agreement of humanitarian exchange. Unfortunately, the comandante told Prensa Latina via Internet, theoligarchies aligned with the drug mafias and paramilitaries took overthe government to defend their interests, with a nod from Washington. This is self-explanatory in the Colombia Plan and its derivativessuch as the Patriot Plan, Consolidation and others with grandiosenames such as Plan Lasso, Centaurs, Destructor One and Two orTanatos, of former president Andres Pastrana. Now, the FARC leader added, they are begging for approval of the FreeTrade Treaty with the United States to continue their killing spreeswith more poverty and destitution but without renouncing the plans ofwar inspired by the plundered empires directed by the United States. Reyes made this declaration after the liberation of Claudia Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez and with the announcement of the liberation of three more congresspersons in answer to requests by Venezuelanpresident, Hugo Chavez, and senator Piedad Cordoba. The proposal Chavez made to recognize the status of FARC was the bestpolitical contribution toward a humanitarian agreement andachievement of peace, he added.

In his opinion, one of the objectives of the war of the Alvaro Uribegovernment is to force the peoples and governments of Venezuela andEcuador to participate in the internal conflict of Colombia throughjoint operations with troops from the three countries. "Our policy," he said, "is to contribute to brotherhood. FARC doesnot cross the border of any nation in military operations." In his declarations to Prensa Latina, Reyes assured that comandanteManuel Marulanda is in good health and at the head of FARC,successfully leading his organization and denied false rumors of aterminal disease with infighting to achieve leadership. Referring to a possible exchange of prisoners, the rebel chief saidit was of utmost importance to clear forces from the municipalitiesof Pradera and Florida, in the Cauca Valley department for 45 days.

The Spanish government and Catholic church of Colombia excludedthemselves as mediators for taking sides with Uribe, he added. Reyes recalled that the guerrillas Simon Trinidad and Sonia,extradited to the United States and the three US agents held by therebels are a substantial part of a possible exchange. The three CIA spies captured are war prisoners and not kidnapped asthe war hawks say to deny the truth of United States interference inthe internal conflict of Colombia, he informed. "Our army," he said "continues a normal process of growth inexperience, men and weapons with growing popular support. There aredaily combats throughout the homeland because guerrilla movements aremobile and their presence is felt in all of Colombia."

Posted from: Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP)