BOGOTA, April 28, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Colombian government on Saturday
said it was offering a near-$1 million dollar reward for information leading
to the capture of a senior former FARC guerilla commander wanted for
violating a peace treaty that ended half a century of armed conflict.
Defense Minister Guillermo Botero announced the reward of around $930,000 a
day after a peace tribunal canceled Hernan Dario Velasquez Saldarriaga’s
parole following his failure to appear before it three times.
Facing accusations of murders and kidnappings, Velasquez’s whereabouts have
been unknown since June 2018, when he left the southern jungle area where he
was supposed to be re-entering society.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) was set up to try former
combatants and hand out alternative sentences to prison time if they confess
their crimes, compensate victims and pledge never to resort to violence
again. Violating those conditions carries a sentence of up to 20 years.
Velasquez, who is known as “El Paisa” and headed the former rebel group’s
main elite force, is the first rebel leader to be sanctioned by the tribunal.
He left the area with FARC’s former chief peace negotiator Ivan Marquez.
Both distanced themselves from the deal after rebel leader Jesus Santrich,
wanted on drug trafficking charges in the US, was captured for extradition
last April.