Colombian guerrilla group the ELN Monday released a statement on its website mourning the death of former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, who it says was “a champion of justice and peace.”
The guerrilla group praised Kirchner’s work across Latin America as well as in his own country. The statement speaks about the Argentine’s efforts “to join sister nations” in the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
“His legacy of unity, independence, justice and peace will be remembered forever by all peoples of the Americas,” the ELN said.
In the statement, the group also mentioned Kirchner’s role in improving relations between Colombia and Venezuela in his position as secretary general of UNASUR, and notes that the Argentine “laid the foundation for [UNASUR] to assume leadership in the facilitation of a political solution to the social, political and armed conflict that Colombians live.”
Kirchner died unexpectedly of a heart attack on October 27.