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Colombian guerrillas call on U.S. to help finance peace process

Xinhua, February 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Wednesday called on the U.S. to help finance the Colombian peace process, citing the role Washington played in the failure of an aid program called Plan Colombia.

"A country that has been involved in the conflict in Colombia must also be involved in providing resources for a new era of peace and reconciliation," said FARC spokesman, Arturo Alape, in Havana after another day of dialogue with the Colombian government.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is travelling on Wednesday to Washington, where he will meet with President Barack Obama for the 15th anniversary of Plan Colombia.

Plan Colombia was a U.S.-backed attempt to fight Colombian drug cartels and guerrilla groups by providing over 10 billion U.S. dollars between 2000 and 2015 and logistical support for the government.

Critics of the program have said that the plan had minimal impact on the drugs trade and overlooked human rights crimes carried out by Colombian security forces.

"These 15 years have been a painful, national tragedy which saw the number of victims and those displaced rise," Alape said.

Santos' government has defended Plan Colombia as having been successful, saying although it did not wipe out the drugs trade, it helped Colombia grow stronger and the FARC was forced to enter peace talks.

In Washington, Santos hopes to discuss plans to expand cooperation with the United States during the South American country's peace process with the FARC, with a final peace deal expected to be signed on March 23. Enditem