Colombia’s Chief of Police General Oscar Naranjo claimed Tuesday that public protests inflict real harm on the morale of the FARC rebel group.
Commenting on Tuesday’s nationwide march to end violence and free all hostages from illegal armed organizations, Naranjo said, “Despite what Colombians believe — that these organizations do not care about popular expression — when we reviewed [their effect] in depth, with privileged intelligence, we discovered that they create tremendous concern and anxiety for the FARC Secretariat, who see how Colombians pressure them and reject their terrorist methods.”
The police chief also indicated Tuesday’s march was hugely important for conveying to the victims of kidnapping and violence that they have the support of millions of Colombians and that they are not alone.
“Colombian society has made it a priority to return to freedom,” said Naranjo, adding that the country’s demonstrations convey to the world that Colombia is a society that does not, and will not, tolerate living with violence.
The senior official also took the opportunity to reiterate the government’s pleas to the FARC — that it was time to lay down their arms, so they may build a country of peace and democracy together.
