Sweden demands answers from Venezuela over arrest of alleged FARC rebel

Sweden has asked Venezuela to explain why it wasn’t informed when a Swedish citizen accused of being a top FARC guerrilla representative in Europe was arrested and deported to Colombia.

Sweden’s Foreign Ministry says Venezuela sidestepped diplomatic customs by failing to let Stockholm know that Joaquin Perez Becerra had been detained on Saturday and then handed over to Colombia.

Ministry spokeswoman Cecilia Juhlin said Sweden made its query on Tuesday and had not received a reply by late Wednesday.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos called 55-year-old Perez Becerra the most important operative in Europe of FARC. Upon arrival in Colombia, Perez Becerra denied belonging to FARC and told reporters he was a “social communicator.”

(With Associated Press)

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