United States Senator Marco Rubio has taken back expressed support for Colombia’s peace process, saying he will continue to insist on no money or visas for demobilizing Marxist FARC guerrillas.
The Florida Republican sent out two tweets on Thursday saying he never “backed” the peace process as was initially reported by the Miami Herald, that quoted him as urging the importance of “reassuring the Colombian people that the United States supports the implementation of Peace Colombia, but that it will be conditioned on full compliance of the agreement by the FARC.”
US Senator Rubio turns back on Uribe, endorses Colombia peace process
Reading back his own words “puzzled” the US lawmaker, he indicated on Twitter.
Puzzled by this article. Speech never said I "backed" the #Colombia peace deal.Said continued aid with conditions https://t.co/DEWx3Hr3jD
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 11, 2017
The senator then went on to specify that the peace deal “is up to Colombia,” but that no money should go to the FARC.
My position is same as has always been: Peace Deal is up to #Colombia. But no US $ or Visas for FARC & Simon Trinidad stays in fed prison
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 11, 2017
The senator also insisted there would be no visas for FARC members and that extradited FARC leader “Simon Trinidad” must stay imprisoned in the United States.
Republicans threaten to block US aid for Colombia peace process
The FARC has accepted that Trinidad, one of the former guerrillas’ ideologues, would remain in the US in November last year already when it signed the deal that ended the Marxists’ 52 year war with the state, allowing the group to become a political party instead.
After months of delay, US Congress earlier approved a $450 million aid package for the 2017 fiscal year that has been promised by former President Barack Obama.
Uribe meets with US Congressmen to seek support for Colombia opposition
The expedition of visas is the prerogative of any nation state and no right of any non-citizen.
