CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday said two former FARC commanders from neighboring Colombia whose whereabouts are unknown were “welcome in Venezuela,” a statement likely to fuel criticism that he is providing a safe haven for armed groups.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks at a meeting of the Sao Paulo Forum in Caracas, Venezuela, July 28, 2019. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero

Speaking alongside Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the closing ceremony of the Sao Paulo Forum, a gathering of regional leftist politicians and activists, Maduro called Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich “leaders of peace.”

Santrich and Marquez - the war aliases used by Seuxis Paucias Hernandez and Luciano Marin, respectively - both joined the FARC’s political party after the leftist rebel group demobilized under a 2016 peace deal that ended decades of civil war.

But Marquez went missing last year after his nephew was arrested and taken to the United States to cooperate with drug-trafficking investigators. And earlier this month, Colombia’s Supreme Court ordered Santrich’s arrest after he failed to appear for questioning about U.S. drug-trafficking charges.

Colombian President Ivan Duque later suggested Santrich may have fled to Venezuela. Maduro said he had learned of Santrich’s possible presence in Venezuela from Duque’s statement.

“They had announced that Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich were coming, and I was left waiting,” Maduro said. “Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich are welcome in Venezuela and at the Sao Paulo Forum, the two of them are leaders of peace.”

Colombian authorities believe dissident FARC rebels and fighters for leftist rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) are hiding in Venezuela and receiving protection from Maduro, according to a military intelligence report seen by Reuters. Maduro’s government has denied protecting Colombian rebels.

Tensions between the neighboring countries have worsened since Duque joined the United States and most Latin American countries in recognizing Juan Guaido, president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, as the rightful leader, arguing Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

Maduro, who calls Guaido a U.S. puppet seeking to oust him in a coup, broke off diplomatic relations with Bogota in February after Guaido’s failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela through the Colombian border.

Maduro also said that two other FARC leaders, Timochenko and Pablo Catatumbo, were welcome in Venezuela. </s> CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday said two former FARC commanders from neighboring Colombia whose whereabouts are unknown were “welcome in Venezuela,” a statement likely to fuel criticism that he is providing a safe haven for armed groups.

Speaking alongside Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the closing ceremony of the Sao Paulo Forum, a gathering of regional leftist politicians and activists, Maduro called Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich “leaders of peace.”

Santrich and Marquez – the war aliases used by Seuxis Paucias Hernandez and Luciano Marin, respectively – both joined the FARC’s political party after the leftist rebel group demobilized under a 2016 peace deal that ended decades of civil war.

But Marquez went missing last year after his nephew was arrested and taken to the United States to cooperate with drug-trafficking investigators. And earlier this month, Colombia’s Supreme Court ordered Santrich’s arrest after he failed to appear for questioning about U.S. drug-trafficking charges.

Colombian President Ivan Duque later suggested Santrich may have fled to Venezuela. Maduro said he had learned of Santrich’s possible presence in Venezuela from Duque’s statement.

“They had announced that Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich were coming, and I was left waiting,” Maduro said. “Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich are welcome in Venezuela and at the Sao Paulo Forum, the two of them are leaders of peace.”

Colombian authorities believe dissident FARC rebels and fighters for leftist rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) are hiding in Venezuela and receiving protection from Maduro, according to a military intelligence report seen by Reuters. Maduro’s government has denied protecting Colombian rebels.

Tensions between the neighboring countries have worsened since Duque joined the United States and most Latin American countries in recognizing Juan Guaido, president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, as the rightful leader, arguing Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

Maduro, who calls Guaido a U.S. puppet seeking to oust him in a coup, broke off diplomatic relations with Bogota in February after Guaido’s failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela through the Colombian border.

Maduro also said that two other FARC leaders, Timochenko and Pablo Catatumbo, were welcome in Venezuela. </s> BOGOTA: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has turned his country into a terrorist sanctuary and committed the grave error of protecting guerrilla groups and drug traffickers, Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Monday, as tensions between the neighbouring countries escalated once again.

The comments came after Maduro said on Sunday that two missing former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) commanders sought by Colombian judicial authorities were “welcome in Venezuela.” Tensions have worsened since Duque joined the United States and most Latin American countries in recognising Juan Guaido, president of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly, as the country’s rightful leader, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

“What we are seeing is that not only has [Maduro] harboured Colombian terrorists for many years, but he ratifies more and more that Venezuela is a sanctuary for terrorists and drug traffickers,” Duque said in Shanghai, China, where he is on an official visit.

Maduro said over the weekend that Seuxis Paucias Hernandez and Luciano Marin, known respectively by their nom de guerres Jesus Santrich and Ivan Marquez, were “leaders of peace.” Santrich and Marquez both joined the FARC’s political party after the leftist rebel group demobilised under a 2016 peace deal that ended decades of civil war. They were set to serve in congressional seats reserved for the group.

But Marquez went missing last year after his nephew was arrested and taken to the United States to cooperate with drug-trafficking investigators.

Earlier this month Colombia’s Supreme Court ordered Santrich’s arrest after he failed to appear for questioning about US drug-trafficking charges.

“There is not one doubt that Santrich is protected by that dictatorial regime,” Duque said of Venezuela. “This is one more motivation to keep strengthening the diplomatic blockade.”

Duque has repeatedly said Santrich might have fled to Venezuela. Maduro said on Sunday he had learned of Santrich’s possible presence in Venezuela from Duque’s statement.

Colombian authorities believe dissident FARC rebels, who did not demobilise under the peace accord, and fighters for the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group hide in Venezuela and receive protection from Maduro. Maduro’s government has denied protecting rebels.

Maduro, who calls Guaido a US puppet seeking to oust him in a coup, broke off diplomatic relations with Bogota in February after Guaido’s failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into Venezuela via the Colombian border. </s> Colombian President Ivan Duque accused his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro Monday of committing an act of "stupidity" by offering refuge to two of his country's former left-wing guerrilla leaders.

Maduro angered Duque on Sunday when he said that missing Colombian former FARC rebels Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich were "welcome" in Venezuela and that he considered them "leaders of peace."

Bogota has long accused Caracas of harboring guerrillas and drug-traffickers, a charge the Venezuelan authorities deny.

Marquez, whose whereabouts are unknown, was the chief negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the historic December 2016 peace accord that ended a half century of armed conflict with the communist rebels.

Santrich disappeared earlier this month after failing to show up in court to testify about an alleged attempt to sell cocaine.

The Colombian Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for Santrich and the government has offered an almost $1 million reward for information that leads to his capture.

The country hopes to extradite him to the United States where he is wanted for drug trafficking.

"Once again he (Maduro) has committed an act of stupidity by continuing to protect terrorism," Duque, who is on a state visit to China, said in a presidential statement.

Both Marquez and Santrich, whose real name is Seuxis Paucias Hernandez, were due to take up seats in parliament in July 2018.

Marquez refused to take his seat, accusing the government of Duque's predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, who signed the accord, of "betrayal" for making changes to the agreement.

Santrich was unable to take his seat while in prison, but after his release finally took the oath last month before then going into hiding.

Duque, who took office last August, was elected on a promise to modify the peace accord, which he considers too lenient to ex-fighters guilty of serious crimes.

Caracas broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia in February over Duque's support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. </s> Venezuela’s disputed President Nicolas Maduro said Sunday that he expected missing FARC leaders to attend a public event in the capital Caracas on Sunday, but never came.

Maduro made his comments at the end of the Sao Paulo Forum, an annual summit of leftist parties and groups that was held in the Venezuelan capital this year.

“They told me ‘Ivan Marquez‘ and ‘Jesus Santrich‘ were going to come, but I was left waiting,” the authoritarian leader said.

Santrich became an international fugitive last month after he surprisingly disappeared and failed to appear before the Supreme Court to defend himself against a vague US drug trafficking charge.

Evading justice or death? Colombia’s former rebel leaders in hiding

Marquez went off the grid last year already, but is a free man until Colombia’s war crimes tribunal establishes he is in violation of the 2016 peace deal between the former guerrilla group and former President Juan Manuel Santos.

Leaving Colombia’s national territory would be such a violation, but Maduro said that both Santrich and Marquez “are welcome” to his country “whenever they want.”

The Venezuelan president’s comments contradict those of his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, who earlier this month claimed that he “believed” the two FARC leaders were in Venezuela under the protection of Maduro’s “dictatorship.”

Duque, whose far-right party fiercely opposes the peace process, is the ideological opposite of of the radically left-wing Maduro. Both leaders share authoritarian tendencies and have been accused that their power is enforced by violent paramilitary groups.

The apparent no show of the former guerrilla leaders in Caracas maintains the uncertainty about their whereabouts, or whether they are alive or dead. </s> The embattled leader invited two senior figures of FARC – also known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – to his country. Speaking alongside Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at a socialist forum, Mr Maduro called Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich “leaders of peace". The two former commanders went missing after being accused of drug-trafficking charges in the US – and Venezuela may risk a furious response from Washington as well as Colombia if they are found in the country.

Colombia President Ivan Duque claimed two weeks ago without evidence that three missing FARC leaders were in Venezuela under Mr Maduro’s protection. He added: “I believe that Jesus Santrich is being protected in Venezuela. “He did not present himself when he was summoned by justice and, because of the proximity of that place where he was, he quite surely is in Venezuela today with the protection of the government. “Over there in Venezuela are Ivan Marquez, El Paisa, Romaña and they are not playing with dolls over there, they are protected by the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro.”

However, Mr Maduro claimed his innocence with a jibe at his Colombian counterpart. He said: “They had announced that Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich were coming, and I was left waiting. “Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich are welcome in Venezuela and at the Sao Paulo Forum, the two of them are leaders of peace.” He also claimed that two other FARC leaders, Timochenko and Pablo Catatumbo, were welcome. This is not the first time that the two nations have clashed over the alleged harbouring of FARC personnel, though. Until 2016, FARC was a guerilla movement which took on the Colombian state and right-wing paramilitary groups. It aimed to seize power through armed revolution until 2016, when it demobilised and became a political party instead.

During their time as a military operation, however, they received great support from Mr Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez. The infamous 2008 ‘FARC files’ revealed that Mr Chavez was actively permitting safe havens for militants. It has led the Colombian state to believe that FARC dissidents who refused to demobilise are now taking refuge in neighbouring Venezuela. The US, who actively supported the Colombian state against FARC with millions in aid, may also condemn Mr Maduro’s words – and could use them as an excuse to impose more sanctions or take even more drastic action. </s> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced Wednesday a plan directed by the former president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, to enter the country with mercenaries in order to assassinate the head of state and commit other violent acts to destabilize the nation.

Maduro said he has received intelligence information that indicated that the ex-leader of Colombia and right-wing political figure is trying to carry out his killing in collaboration with the current ambassador of Colombia in the United States, along with Venezuelan ultra-right leaders.

"I have learned of a plan directed by Alvaro Uribe Velez with the participation of the Colombian ambassador to the United States, Franciscano Santos, who has discussed with Lester Toledo, a fugitive from Venezuelan justice, to enter Venezuela (with) 32 mercenaries to try to assassinate me and other leaders of the revolution," said Maduro from the presidential palace in Caracas. Maduro says that Uribe, who has strong links to extra-judicial killings and the narco-arms trade in his own country, was concoting this plan from his home in Antioquia.

The president said that Venezuela will overcome all violent and mercenary plans. The claim comes days after seven Colombian paramilitaries were captured by Venezuela on the border between the two countries. The paramilitaries were found with firearms, ammunition, vehicles and communication devices. The arrests took place in the western state of Tachira and was a part of the governments Simon Bolívar Liberation Campaign.

Since July 24 alone, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela have arrested 49 Colombian paramilitaries in their territory and seized almost 3,000 kilos of drugs.

Current Colombian President Ivan Duque, who many say is the puppet of Uribe, has also participated in directly destabalizing Venezuela by taking part in the failed U.S. 'aid' mission to bring in truck loads of supplies from Cucuta, Colombia into Venezuela. </s> The United States on Wednesday announced nearly $9 million in aid to help those fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, days after Venezuela's president said the United States was home to financiers of what he has called an attempt on his life.

The United States' ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, made the announcement during a visit to Colombia's border with Venezuela, which Venezuelans have for months crossed in search of food, work and health care.

The funding will help Colombia address the influx of Venezuelans pouring across the border, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. The U.S. has pledged more than $46 million in humanitarian aid in response to the crisis, USAID said.

Colombia said last month that over 870,000 Venezuelans were living in Colombia, and many of the several hundred thousand more who have Colombian origins are believed to be moving there, according to the Associated Press.

Haley on Wednesday visited Cúcuta, Colombia, a major crossing point for fleeing Venezuelans. On Tuesday, she attended the inauguration of Colombian President Ivan Duque.

The announcement came days after what Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called an attempted assassination while he was speaking in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Maduro has said that opposition leaders were connected to Saturday's alleged attack, which involved exploding drones, and he has said some suspects reside in the Untied States and Colombia.

"I want to explain to the government of the United States and the government of Colombia in detail all the evidence that leads us to accomplices and direct responsible living in the state of Florida," Maduro said, according to the Associated Press. "I trust in the good faith of Donald Trump."

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday denied that the U.S. was involved in the incident. </s> President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart -- the two Western Hemisphere leaders with the most at stake in ousting Nicolás Maduro -- huddled Wednesday at the White House to search for a way to get millions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid into Venezuela.





According to a senior administration official and people familiar with the discussions, Trump and Iván Duque talked about how to enlist regional leaders to break the military blockade stopping the aid and turn Maduro’s loyal generals against him.

They also discussed how the United States can continue supporting Colombia, which is Washington’s most important ally in the fight and faces the brunt of the humanitarian crisis that is spilling out of Venezuela.

“Duque is the key player in all of this obviously because of the border,” a senior administration official said, who was not authorized to speak publicly about administration policy. “You’re looking at a country who had to endure more than a million Venezuelans inside their borders. For them it’s a national security issue, just like it is for us.”

The two men are working closely together with their teams on how to support the 35-year-old Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president, Juan Guaidó, who has promised that tens of millions of dollars worth of food and medicine will be delivered to the people starting Feb. 23 without any real explanation of how.

Trump and Duque touched on some of those challenges during public comments where the two, sitting by a fireplace, lamented the state of affairs in Venezuela.

“Really, we’re trying to get food to people,” Trump said. “You have people starving in Venezuela. It just shows what can happen with the wrong government.”

They met previously in September at the United Nations General Assembly and appear to be comfortable together. Duque was certainly comfortable enough to twice interject himself into questions to Trump about U.S. priorities on Venezuela and to give the Colombian government’s perspective and support for the opposition.

It was only when drugs came up that the discussion seemed to get tense; Trump turned to look directly at Duque after saying that Colombia needed to do more to eradicate drug production.

“I wouldn’t say that at this moment you’re ahead of schedule, but hopefully you will be at some time in the near future,” Trump said, triggering Duque to interrupt a third time and defend his government’s efforts to meet goals to eradicate drugs.

But it was the crisis in Venezuela that was the central issue that brought the two leaders together.

The Maduro government has blocked a bridge connecting the once oil-rich nation to Colombia as humanitarian aid, requested by Guaidó, has collected along the border.

The Trump administration is wrestling now with how to get the aid to the United States without using force, possibly by sea or air. They’re also studying the feasibility of having Venezuelans fill up backpacks and bags to carry some of the aid into the country to be distributed.

The administration has offered amnesty from U.S. sanctions to top ranking military officials and urged rank and file members to disobey Maduro and allow the aid to enter the country.

While Trump and Duque met at the Oval Office, the administration’s new special envoy for Venezuela, Elliot Abrams, told members of Congress that they’ve been unsuccessful in their efforts to turn leaders of the military against Maduro, but that they’re seeing positive signs.

“We’re hearing a lot of discontent in the military,” Abrams said at a House Foreign Affairs hearing Wednesday. “For one thing, if you’re a general looking down at the ranks, you know that your own people in the army are starving. And what about their brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers. So we think this opinion is spreading in the military that the current situation is untenable.”

While Trump would not exempt the possible use of military force, his senior staff have said that U.S. troops will not be used to force the aid into the country. The Colombian government has also opposed the use of military force to deliver the aid.

Trump would not discuss whether the United States is sending troops to Colombia after his national security advisor appeared to disclose confidential notes to send 5,000 service members to South America amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.

Benjamin Gedan, who was responsible for Venezuela policy on the National Security Council during the Obama administration, said getting aid into Venezuelan is urgent.

“As long as the White House is not pursuing humanitarian assistance merely to provoke a military confrontation, it’s a humane policy, and it has the added benefit of exposing Nicolás Maduro’s cruelty.”

This is Duque’s first official visit to Washington as president. In July of last year, one month before taking office, he visited DC and met with Vice President Pence. (Trump twice cancelled visits to Bogota last year, but said Wednesday that he would visit Colombia and he looked forward to it.)

The Colombian president is crucial part of the U.S. strategy. Duque’s busy schedule during an at least four-day visit to Washington and New York reflects that.

In addition to meeting with Trump and leaders across the administration, Duque will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On Thursday, he’ll visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, where he worked before becoming president of Colombia. On Friday, he will address the international community at the Organization of American States and later ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

“The days for this dictatorship are about to end,” Duque said, “and we have to continue working on that.”
After two FARC leaders go into hiding from drug trafficking charges in Colombia and the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro makes a public statement saying they are welcome to take refuge in his country. He also welcomes other FARC rebels to Venezuela, calling them "leaders of peace".