A Colombian judge has refused a request by the family of slain rebel military commander Victor Suarez, alias “Mono Jojoy” to bury him in his hometown.
Judge Paula Jimenez accepted the government’s arguments that releasing the body of Suarez into the custody of relatives would pose a threat to public order.
Rodolfo Rios represents Suarez’s family. He says that he will immediately appeal Monday’s decision.
Suarez is best known by his alias ‘Mono Jojoy.’ He was killed Sept. 22 in an air raid on his jungle camp. His family wants to bury him in the small town of Cabrera about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Bogota.
The government has succeeded in keeping secret the graves of two other Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia leaders who were slain in 2008. (AP)