The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) distanced itself from the attacks that have occurred in Apure state in recent weeks.
Through a communiqué read by [FARC guerrilla leader] Iván Márquez, the organization clarified that its battle is within Colombian territory.
Likewise, Márquez indicated that they respect the sovereignty of governments and peoples. “We do not charge taxes to any of the nationals of those countries, much less intervene in the management of their natural wealth,” he said.
Along the same lines, he pointed out that the events in the border area are “regrettable armed incidents between Colombian paramilitaries and the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) in Venezuela.”
The document—signed by Oscar Montero, Jhon 40, Jesús Santrich, Morante, Nelson Robles, and Juan Carlos Pérez (border commandos), in addition to Walter Mendoza, Edison Romaña, Iván Alí, Roosevelt Ramírez, Nelson González, Daladier Cardona Cardona, Enrique Marulanda, and Iván Márquez, states that both nations must act “as one, as sea and wave” to achieve definitive independence.
It should be recalled that since March 21, the FANB has been deployed in Apure to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuelan territory, faced with attempts by Colombian criminal paramilitary gangs to establish their drug trafficking operations across the border in Apure state, Venezuela.
En un vídeo (de 5:36 minutos) publicado en RRSS aparece Márquez junto a otros guerrilleros fijando posición. Se deslindó del ataque y recordó que para el grupo rebelde "la lucha armada es en territorio colombiano contra un régimen injusto que nos oprime desde hace 200 años". pic.twitter.com/p8KIy6twzl
— La Tabla (@latablablog) April 14, 2021
Consideró que Colombia y Venezuela deben actuar unidas "como una sola, como mar y ola" para conseguir la definitiva independencia. "Que mueran los chovinismos hirsutos que son azuzados por potencias extranjeras", dijo.
— La Tabla (@latablablog) April 14, 2021
Durante décadas, la guerra interna en Colombia ha permeado la frontera y según pobladores los grupos guerrilleros, paramilitares y bandas criminales locales -transversalizados por el narcotráfico- usan el territorio venezolano como zona de distensión.
— La Tabla (@latablablog) April 14, 2021
Featured image: FARC-EP with spokesperson Iván Márquez (La Tabla/Twitter)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SL/JRE