The Venezuelan Ambassador to Bogota reiterated Friday that Venezuela is not a safehaven to leaders of the FARC or other illegal armed groups as Colombia claims.
“There has been no case in real terms of a discovery of that nature. I think those who know where they [the guerrilla leaders] are should share that information,” Ambassador Gustavo Marquez told RCN Radio.
Marquez said claims of supposed FARC presence in Venezuela are “the product of manipulation and disinformation”.
Diplomatic relations between Bogota and Caracas were fractured following Colombia’s military incursion onto Ecuadorean soil in March 2008, which resulted in the death of FARC commander ‘Raul Reyes’ and 25 others.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called the incident a “criminal” act by a”terrorist state”. He denounced the Colombian incursion onto Ecuadorean soil as a violation of the sovereignty of a brother country.
Venezuela assembled troops along its border and withdrew its Ambassador to Bogota.
The Venezuelan opposition has condemned Chavez for harboring guerrillas, something which Marquez has consistently denied.
NGO Refugees International told Colombia Reports of a “visible presence” of guerrillas in Venezuela.
Venezuela deported ELN leader ‘El Cantante’ back to Colombia earlier this week.
