MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New Colombian president to redouble military offensive against guerrillas

President Juan Manuel Santos: wait for the ‘welcome reply’

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced he would “redouble” the military's offensive against Marxist-inspired, drugs financed FARC guerrillas after several attacks killed 40 police and military officers.

Colombia's rebel groups have launched a string of deadly attacks in recent weeks following the inauguration of Santos, a former Defence minister who has promised to keep pressure on the insurgents.

“We have decided to intensify the offensive... so that these criminals do not have time to plan their operations,” Santos said in Monteria, in Cordoba department.

“There’s the feeling among many people that these attacks is something with which they want to give the welcome to the new government. If that’s the welcome, be prepared for the reply to that welcome”, said Santos.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Latin America's oldest and most powerful insurgency and the National Liberation Army (ELN) traditionally carry out more violent attacks during government transitions. Santos took office August 7.

Eight police officers were killed in clashes with leftist rebels Friday in south-western Colombia near the border with Ecuador in a shootout with members of the Marxist FARC who tried to take over San Miguel town in Putumayo province.

Santos has rejected a rebel offer of peace talks, calling for them to first free hostages, stop kidnapping and recruiting minors.

The Colombian president said that in spite of the latest attacks, the number of terrorist attacks has not increased. “So far this year the number of ‘high impact’ crimes including kidnapping has been down 5%”, said Santos.

“These armed groups were born when there was no rule of the law in Colombia, but nowadays we live in democracy, there’s no reason for them to continue with their violent actions”.