Dissident Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba insists the Colombian government should seek a political solution to the country’s violent conflict after the rejection of her proposal for peace talks.
On her Twitter account, the senator responded to Colombian Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera who had earlier denied her calls for peace talks, claiming her proposals “do not even deserve a response by the government.”
“When faced with terrorists there is no alternative to the strong response of all Colombians on all fronts, militarily, politically, legally, and institutionally, as well as on the political and international front,” the minister said.
President Juan Manuel Santos told press that “we have to firmly reject these expressions that legitimize terrorism.”
However, according to Cordoba, “the only ones who legitimize terrorism and the FARC are those who ask for bullets and death to “terminate” the war. The solution is peace.”
The senator is isolated within her own Liberal Party, that forms part of the Santos coalition. Party leader Rafael Pardo on Friday said his party regreats the unfortunate statements” of the senator.
Cordoba has for years advocated a political solution to the conflict, but has been opposed by the administrations of former President Alvaro Uribe and current President Juan Manuel Santos who demand that the FARC ceases terrorist activities before peace talks begin.
