The Colombian army killed a regional FARC leader, President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Saturday.
Jesús Antonio Plata Ríos, alias “Zeplin,” was killed Friday by soldiers of the 3rd Division in the southwstern Nariño department, on the border with Ecuador.
“Thanks to the joint work of the air force and the army the head of FARC’s western front, Zeplin, was neutralized,” Santos wrote on Twitter.
Gracias a trabajo conjunto de @FuerzaAereaCol y @Col_Ejercito fue neutralizado alias ‘Zeplin’ cabecilla del frente occidental de las Farc.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) August 10, 2013
Zeplin’s death came the same day as the conclusion of the 12th round of peace talks between the Colombia’s government and the country’s main rebel group FARC. Military operations have continued during the peace talks to end the 50-year conflict, the president fearing that a ceasefire would give military advantage to the rebels.
MORE: FARC And Government Peace Delegations Take Break After 12th Round Of Talks
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzón described the killing of Zeplin as “yet another blow that shows the capability of our national army in the fight against the FARC.”
According to Pinzón, Zeplin led the FARC’s Antonio Nariño Front and was also in charge of the grassroots support networks in the west of Colombia. He was wanted by the authorities for conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and first degree murder.
Zeplin was an expert in Marxist-Leninist doctrine and belonged to the guerrilla group M-19 before serving for more than 20 years in the FARC, military sources said.
Sources
- Colombian army kills regional FARC leader
- Abatido alias ‘Zepelin’, importante jefe e ideólogo de las Farc
- Santos destaca muerte de alias ‘Zepelin’, jefe e ideólogo de las Farc
- Presidente felicitó al Ejército por la muerte de jefe de las Farc
- Nuevo golpe al Bloque Alfonso Cano de las Farc, neutralizado alias ‘Zeplin’ Cabecilla del Frente Antonio Nariño
- Colombia peace talks with Farc in Cuba make progress
