Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 30 august 2019
Colombia FARC negotiators say they are taking up arms again

By JOSHUA GOODMAN ing rebels of benefits under
Associated Press the peace deal. Under the
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) accord, rebels who con-
— The top peace nego- fess their involvement in
tiator for the Revolutionary war crimes like the extortive
Armed Forces of Colombia kidnappings of civilians and
announced Thursday that recruitment of child soldiers
he and a cadre of hardline will be spared jail time and
supporters are taking up protected from extradi-
arms again, accusing Presi- tion to the U.S., which has
dent Iván Duque of failing charged the FARC's top
to uphold the accord that leadership with cocaine
sought to end a half cen- trafficking.
tury of bloody fighting. "Whoever rearms will be ex-
In a video published be- pelled," Linares said.
fore dawn, Luciano Marin It's unclear how the deci-
appeared alongside some sion by Marin to rearm will
20 heavily armed guerrillas affect Colombia's delicate
dressed in camouflaged security balance. Around
fatigues condemning the 90% of the 7,000 rebels who
conservative Duque for handed over their weapons
standing by idly as hun- to United Nations observers
dreds of leftist activists and in 2016 continue to live up
150 rebels that have been In this June 12, 2019 file photo, former FARC rebel Seuxis Hernandez, also known as Jesus Santrich, to their commitments un-
killed since demobilizing as flashes a victory sign at journalists as he attends a session of the Chamber of Representatives at der the peace deal.
part of the peace deal. the Colombian congress in Bogota, Colombia. But a group of dissident
"When we signed the ac- Associated Press FARC commanders never
cord in Havana we did so demobilized and have seen
with the conviction that it which is to guarantee the former FARC leaders, in- lombians, many of whom their ranks swell to around
was possible to change the life of its citizens and espe- cluding ideologue Seuxis believe the FARC benefit- 2,500 fighters through re-
life of the most humble and cially avoid assassinations Hernández, alias Jesús ed from a sweetheart deal. cruitment. They continue
dispossessed," said Marin, for political reasons." Santrich, who abandoned Patricia Linares, head of to terrorize far-flung parts
better known by his alias In the video, Marin, speak- the peace process after the special peace tribunal of the country and along
Iván Márquez, in the more ing from what he said were the U.S. ordered his arrest investigating the FARC's Colombia's borders with
than 30 minute video. "But Colombia's eastern jungles on drug charges. crimes, indicated that Venezuela and Ecuador,
the state hasn't fulfilled its in the Amazon rainforest, The decision to return to magistrates would move profiting from drug traffick-
most important obligation, stood alongside several arms angered many Co- quickly to strip the desert- ing and other crimes.q

Haitian president pledges to outlast troubles

moving forward," Moise for shoddy and substan- The protests, economic
said, saying he would resist dard work, like an overpass downturn and increasing
pressure to resign. built over busy Delmas av- insecurity and gang-relat-
Moise was named in two enue that cost more than ed crime have made Moi-
reports resulting from a $30 million, but should have se's political future uncer-
corruption investigation cost around $2 million. tain despite his determina-
by judicial authorities into Once revealed, the extent tion to stay in power.
the spending of funds from of the corruption sparked Moise said he was not con-
Petrocaribe, a Venezuelan widespread protests and cerned about more allega-
government program that street violence, and calls tions of his involvement in
provided subsidized oil to for Moise to step down. potentially improper con-
Caribbean nations. Pro- Moise has refused to resign, tracting, saying: "The judi-
testers have repeatedly though he promised to cial audit does not involve
taken to the streets in re- criminally charge anyone the executive branch. This
cent months in demonstra- found by the audit board is a concern of the judicial
Haiti's President Jovenel Moise pauses during an interview in his tions prompted by the find- to have stolen funds from branch."
office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. ings of widespread fraud the government. The president insisted that
Associated Press in government contracts "Of course we must know Haiti must move beyond
awarded to contractors to the truth and the truth the crisis and let the judicial
By CHRISTOPHER GILLETTE President Jovenel Moise build roads, buildings and about this investigation process play out.
Associated Press pledged in an interview administer social programs. must be released. That is "We must go beyond talk-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) with The Associated Press Moise was described as re- very important. The inves- ing about the survival of the
— Haiti's president says he on Wednesday to respect ceiving potentially improp- tigation must reveal the government, because po-
will serve out his term de- the findings of a commis- er payments as a private truth so that justice can litical stability in Haiti is the
spite rising violence, poor sion investigating the cor- contractor to build a road be served and the guilty most important thing for
economic performance ruption allegations. in northern Haiti before he jailed. Those who misspent us," he said. "If the opposi-
and months of protests "It takes a lot of courage became president. the government's money, tion wants power they must
over unresolved allegations to stay in power, but I am The audits revealed millions they should be arrested participate in democratic
of corruption in his prede- pledging to you to have of dollars of aid money si- and locked up," Moise said elections and win the vote
cessor's administration. the courage to continue phoned off by contractors Wednesday. of the people."q