President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday said that his administration has given more damning blows to the FARC more than any other.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Neiva, the head of state was keen to stress his government’s achievements against the rebel group with who top officials are now holding peace talks.
“No government since the FARC were born almost 50 years ago have made stronger blows against the terrorist organisation,” emphasized Santos.
“We took down their number one, and we took down their number two. Mono Jojoy and Alfonso Cano, individuals that no one had been able to reach. We have also taken 44 ringleaders off the FARC’s fronts,” stressed the head of state.
Santos continued, stating that the government’s successes against the rebel group have enhanced their negotiating position at the current peace talks.
“The correlation of forces has changed significantly in favor of the state and that is one of the reasons we do not accept what the FARC is asking us, a ceasefire” explained Santos.
Santos did however, acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead.
“There are other emerging types of challenges, public safety, the safety of the ordinary citizen. The security of our citizens is our greatest challenge now” explained the head of state.
The FARC and the government have been involved in peace talks since November in order to seek a negotiated end to a conflict that has lasted almost 50 years.
While an accord has been reached regarding land reform, no agreements have been made on the issue of the FARC’s political participation, drug trafficking, the practicalities of the end of the armed conflict and the rights of the victims.
Sources
- Jamás ningún gobierno le había dado golpes tan contundentes a las Farc en toda su historia, subrayó el Presidente Santos (President’s office)