Bogota, May 25, 2022 (AFP) – Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano released a report this Wednesday on the “death claim” of Miguel Santillana, the extinct guerrilla leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), known as the “Gentil”. Duarte” in clashes with drug trafficking groups in Venezuela.
“Information from Colombian intelligence reveals the allegation that Gentil Duarte died in the Venezuelan state of Zulia as a result of a conflict between drug traffickers and terrorist groups,” said Minister Molano.
Gentil Duarte participated in peace talks between the government and the FARC in Havana, but was one of the first guerrilla leaders to re-arm after the agreement was signed in 2016. Since then, the 59-year-old rebel leader has been in the position. A faction opposition known as the South-Eastern Bloc, made up of about 1,700 fighters operating predominantly on the Colombian border and the Amazon, according to independent reports.
According to the newspaper “El Tiempo”, citing intelligence sources in both countries, Duarte died earlier this month after an explosion in a forest camp near the municipality of Casigua del Cubo. The government has offered a reward of up to $1 million for his whereabouts.
The Southeast Bloc is discussing drug trafficking routes with another opposition faction of the FARC known as Segunda Marquetalia and the ELN, the last recognized guerrilla in the country.
Molano added that Duarte fled to that country because of the persecution of the Colombian army.
Caracas has repeatedly denied accusations by Iván Duque’s government about the alleged bunker offered to Colombian armed groups, and has not commented on Botache’s alleged death.
According to the NGO Indepaz, without a unified command, the opposition consists of about 5,200 militants spread across different parts of the country. They mainly finance themselves from drug trafficking and illegal exploitation of gold and other metals. According to the same source, the majority (85%) are soldiers who were not part of the extinct insurgent organization.
source: Noticias
