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OAS SECRETARY GENERAL CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF GOVERNOR OF CAQUETÁ, COLOMBIA

  December 23, 2009

Today, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, strongly condemned the murders of Luis Francisco Cuéllar, Governor of the Colombian Department of Caquetá, and Javier García Gutiérrez, a police officer, by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

“This act of atrocity and barbarism deserves the contempt of the international community that supports Colombia in its efforts to achieve peace,” said Insulza, calling on the illicit group to “understand the pain and the implications of these acts, which go against the individual integrity and national peace.”

The Secretary General added that “the death of a public official in our region will always be condemnable. I hope those responsible for this murder will soon be captured by the Colombian security forces and that they will be held accountable within the framework of the law.”

Finally, Insulza reiterated the commitment of the Organization he heads to continue bringing support to the region’s governments in their efforts to fight drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as to build the social harmony and dialogue that are indispensable to prevent actions such as the one carried out in Colombia.

Reference: E-424/09