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Colombian General’s Capture by FARC Guerillas Threatens Peace Talks Colombian Forces Search for General Seized by Rebels
(about 3 hours later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — Government troops and airplanes scoured northwestern Colombia searching for General Rubén Dario Alzate on Tuesday, as his capture by guerillas over the weekend threatened to upend peace talks meant to end a 50-year insurgency. CARACAS, Venezuela — Government troops and airplanes scoured northwestern Colombia searching for Gen. Rubén Darío Alzate on Tuesday, as his capture by guerrillas over the weekend threatened to upend peace talks meant to end a 50-year insurgency.
Though the country’s main guerilla group confirmed on Tuesday that it had seized the general, the circumstances behind the capture remained mysterious. A corporal and an army lawyer were taken along with him. Though the country’s main guerrilla group confirmed on Tuesday that it had seized the general, the circumstances behind the capture remained mysterious. A corporal and an army lawyer were taken along with him.
Government envoys have been meeting in Havana with representatives of the guerilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for nearly two years, making slow but significant progress toward a peace settlement. President Juan Manuel Santos suspended the talks on Monday and demanded the immediate release of the captives. Government envoys have been meeting in Havana with representatives of the guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for nearly two years, making slow but significant progress toward a peace settlement. President Juan Manuel Santos suspended the talks on Monday and demanded the immediate release of the captives.
A FARC representative read a statement in Havana on Tuesday confirming that one of the group’s patrols had captured the general and the two others on the banks of the Atrato River in the Chocó region. The statement described the three as “enemy military personel carrying out their functions in a war zone.” A FARC representative read a statement in Havana on Tuesday confirming that one of the group’s patrols had captured the general and the two others on the banks of the Atrato River in the Chocó region. The statement described the three as “enemy military personnel carrying out their functions in a war zone.”
Jorge Torres, a member of the rebels’ negotiating team who is frequently identified by the alias Pablo Catatumbo, called the capture “an extraordinary event” and said, “We are prepared to contribute to a quick and sensible solution to this problem.”Jorge Torres, a member of the rebels’ negotiating team who is frequently identified by the alias Pablo Catatumbo, called the capture “an extraordinary event” and said, “We are prepared to contribute to a quick and sensible solution to this problem.”
But he said that he and his fellow negotiators, including some of the guerilla group’s most senior commanders, did not have direct control over the situation on the ground in Chocó. But he said that he and his fellow negotiators, including some of the guerrilla group’s most senior commanders, did not have direct control over the situation in Chocó.
“The commanders who can solve this problem are in Colombia,” he said.“The commanders who can solve this problem are in Colombia,” he said.
Mr. Torres called for the government to agree to a cease-fire, which he said would create better conditions for the peace talks.Mr. Torres called for the government to agree to a cease-fire, which he said would create better conditions for the peace talks.
The government did not offer an immediate response to the FARC statements. Mr. Santos has repeatedly refused to agree to a cease-fire or truce, a stance he maintained on Monday.The government did not offer an immediate response to the FARC statements. Mr. Santos has repeatedly refused to agree to a cease-fire or truce, a stance he maintained on Monday.
According to offical accounts, the general and the two others, wearing civilian clothes, had taken a small boat into an area of known rebel activity without a military escort. The soldier steering the boat warned the general that the area they were entering was dangerous, but the general disregarded the warning, the accounts said. According to official accounts, the general and the two others, wearing civilian clothes, had taken a small boat into an area of known rebel activity without a military escort. The soldier steering the boat warned the general that the area they were entering was dangerous, but the general disregarded the warning, the accounts said.
The reason for the general’s river excursion was not clear, and it was unknown why he did not follow standard security protocols.The reason for the general’s river excursion was not clear, and it was unknown why he did not follow standard security protocols.
The statement by the rebels suggested that they might stage a trial of the general for propaganda purposes. “General Alzate owes a large debt to popular justice,” it said. “Surely his case merits a lengthy examination in which many things will need to be balanced.”The statement by the rebels suggested that they might stage a trial of the general for propaganda purposes. “General Alzate owes a large debt to popular justice,” it said. “Surely his case merits a lengthy examination in which many things will need to be balanced.”
Mr. Santos said Monday night that the peace talks would not resume until the general was freed, and he urged the rebel group to “show its willingness for peace through actions and not just words.”Mr. Santos said Monday night that the peace talks would not resume until the general was freed, and he urged the rebel group to “show its willingness for peace through actions and not just words.”
Ariel Avila, an investigator with the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation in Bogotá, said he did not believe that the capture of the general was an attempt to sabotage the peace process, either by a recalcitrant segment of FARC or by the military.Ariel Avila, an investigator with the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation in Bogotá, said he did not believe that the capture of the general was an attempt to sabotage the peace process, either by a recalcitrant segment of FARC or by the military.
“This is a deep crisis, but it can be easily overcome,” he said. “With the release of the general, the talks can continue.”“This is a deep crisis, but it can be easily overcome,” he said. “With the release of the general, the talks can continue.”