Colombia’s biggest rebel group FARC is armed with Swedish-made
rocket launchers, several media report. President Alvaro Uribe calls on
weapon manufacturing countries to prevent arms ending up in FARC hands.
Colombian army discovered AT-4 weapons manufactured by the Swedish company Saab Bofors Dynamics on FARC bases one year ago.
Questioned on this matter, the Swedish weaponry company assured that it sold the rocket launchers to the Venezuelan army.
It is not known how the weapons fell into the hands of the FARC. The Venezuelan government promised to look into the issue but has not yet been able to clarify the weapons transfer.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Sunday called on international markets not to sell weapons to illegal armed groups but to help Colombia defeat terrorism.
Selling weaponry to Colombian guerrilla groups is “an act against Colombian people,” Uribe said.
“We have issued our complaints diplomatically to the respective countries. And there are two options: either we start to appease or we proceed vigorously,” the President added.
The AT-4 weapons are described as on of the world’s most advanced anti-tank weapons, easy to carry, easy to use and very effective.