A FARC victim and congresswoman has removed herself from Colombia’s Peace Commission because of comments made about her by the FARC rebel group.
Clara Rojas’ legitimacy as a victim was questioned by the FARC on the group’s website.
The FARC said that Rojas had no right to call herself a victim of the FARC despite the fact that she spent six years in captivity.
According to the FARC opinion piece, Rojas had the opportunity to leave the camp but instead decided to stay with her friend and fellow captive, Ingrid Betancourt, and have a child with a FARC guerrilla.
MORE: Prominent kidnap victim has no right to be labeled victim: FARC
Rojas subsequently resigned from her position as co-president of Colombian Congress’ Peace Commission.
The House Representative stated that “it is public knowledge the events that presented themselves last week with the FARC; this situation affected me personally, my family, and my son,” according to Vanguardia new site.
The liberal congresswomen said to regret how the FARC addressed her.
The rebel group has since backpedaled stating that the comments attacking her was the position of one FARC commander and not of the group.
MORE: FARC backpedals on statement denying congresswoman as victim
Humberto de la Calle, the lead negotiator of the government in ongoing peace talks with the FARC, expressed his regrets over Rojas’ resignation.
In an official press statement, Humberto de la Calle, lead negotiator of the government, stated that “we also regret the resignation of Clara Rojas representative of the Peace Commission in the Congress, who overcame difficult circumstances in her life. She has supported the peace process.”
PROFILE: Clara Rojas
