Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos said Tuesday the government would continue to focus on security and poverty reduction in the wake of recent violence.
“Our destination is a (…) more safe and at peace Colombia. Peaceful by reason or by force. A more equitable Colombia, with less injustice, with less poverty and a growing economy that generates more jobs,” Santos said, in comments made at the Presidential Palace in Bogota.
“There are extremists to the left and right, who want us to deviate from the course. There are terrorists who want to impose their agenda,” he added.
The message came one day after FARC rebels allegedly killed 12 Colombian soldiers near the Venezuelan border, a week after a bomb attack in Bogota killed two people and injured a former minister, and three weeks into the kidnapping of French journalist Romeo Langlois.
“Nothing and no one will make us change course,” the president said.
Evidence suggested the FARC was behind the attack that targeted former interior minister Fernando Londoño, according to Army General Sergio Mantilla, who cited two phone calls between alleged FARC members following the May 15 bombing.
Santos said Tuesday his government will not stray from the targets established when he took office in 2010.
He added that despite recent violence, security in Colombia has improved.
“In security we are moving forward. We are making good progress despite setbacks we have suffered. We are in a war. In every war there are setbacks, but the net balance is very positive,” he said.
Santos made the remarks during a speech to mark the enactment of the Royalties Reform, legislation which the government has claimed will make for a more equitable and less impoverished nation through the redistribution of petroleum royalties across the country.
