HomeNewsBriefFARC Rejects Calls to Surrender After Death of Leader
BRIEF

FARC Rejects Calls to Surrender After Death of Leader

ALFONSO CANO / 15 NOV 2011 BY JEANNA CULLINAN EN

Following the death of their leader, alias 'Alfonso Cano,' the FARC guerrilla group issued a statement refusing to surrender, but said they would continue to seek a political solution with the Colombian government.

In a communique-cum-obituary posted to their website, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) remembered Guillermo Leon Saenz, alias “Alfonso Cano,” as a daring military commander and dedicated revolutionary.

The FARC dismissed President Juan Manuel Santos' offer of demobilization and pledged to continue their “heroic resistance,” but said they were "committed to seeking a political solution to achieve democratic peace with dignity and social justice."

The FARC leader was killed by government forces in a bombing raid in southwest Colombia more than a week previously.

A guerrilla captured in the operation reportedly told the authorities that Saenz died because he was over confident, and remained in one place for too long instead of moving around.

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