Governor says FARC chief hiding in Venezuela
By Manuel Rueda, Editorial Director
Monday, February 22, 2010
The governor of the Colombian State of Arauca, Luis Eduardo Ataya, says he has information that proves a local FARC commander, who goes by the alias Grannobles, is hiding in Venezuela.
Arauca is an oil rich State which borders Venezuela in the Llanos or eastern plains. Many areas of this State are disputed by the Army, Paramilitaries, and guerrilla groups, who are often accused of crossing over to Venezuela to avoid the army´s pursuit.
Ataya says that the information on Grannobles comes from Colombian intelligence agents. He claims that the FARC commander is living on a farm near the Venezuelan town of Elorza, from which he coordinates cocaine shipments that cross Venezuela, and head to Europe and the US.
Grannobles has been in the FARC for more than twenty years and is wanted in Colombia for rebellion and drug trafficking charges.
He is also wanted in the US for the death of three American activists who were kidnapped and executed by the FARC in 1999 as they worked with the U´wa indigenous people in Arauca.
Venezuela denies the presence of any FARC commanders in its territory, and President Chavez called the Arauca Governor´s declarations “a provocation,” adding that Colombia is “looking for any excuse to interfere in Venezuela´s affairs,” and concluding that Ataya has “no proof” that Grannobles is in Venezuela.
Colombian citizens in Arauca however, say that they are subject to constant harassment and assault by FARC militants, when they cross over into Venezuela to do business.
On the border between both countries large billboards on the Colombian side face Venezuela, showing pictures of FARC leaders, and offering generous rewards for any information leading to their capture.
A Venezuelan government sponsored billboard at the entrance to Venezuela in the town of Guasdalito defies the US and its ally Colombia, saying that if the “Yankee Empire” dares to “enter Venezuelan territory” thar the “Bolivarian” nation “swears to fight to the death.”
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