The U.S. embassy on Wednesday released a statement condemning the kidnap and murder of the governor of Caqueta and his security policeman.
The statement asserted – “The United States is shocked and deeply grieved to learn of the kidnapping and cold-blooded murder of Luis Francisco Cuellar, governor of Caqueta and the murder of police patrolman Javier Simon Garcia by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on 22 December 2009. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the governor and the trooper Garcia Cuellar.”
The embassy statement reiterated U.S. commitment to helping “Colombians to defend their democracy from these narco-terrorists,” and supporting “the government of Colombia in its efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation.”
The FARC has not yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and murder of Cuellar but local authorities and the Government assume that they carried out the operation.
If it is confirmed that the FARC are responsible, Cuellar will become the first high-level politician to be abducted and murdered by the armed group in Colombia since Uribe took office in August 2002.