FARC founder dies: El Tiempo

Colombia news - Martin Villa

Martin Villa, one of the original founders of Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC has died of a heart attack, newspaper El Tiempo reported Sunday based on testimonies by demobilized guerrillas.

Marcelino ‘ Martin Villa’ Trujillo Bustos, was one of the militant farmers that formed the FARC in 1964.

According to the newspaper, Villa “suffered a heart attack and died a few months ago in the jungles near the border with Venezuela.” The death was confirmed by “people close to the FARC,” El Tiempo said.

The FARC head was wanted by the United States to stand trial for drug trafficking charges. The U.S. State Department therefore put US$2.5 million on his head.

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