Venezuelan MPs support guerillas' political status

Venezuela’s National Assembly approved a measure backing the granting of political status to the Colombian FARC and ELN guerilla groups. The proposal’s text recognizes Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’ declaration last week that the guerillas are "armies" and should be taken off international terrorist lists:

The Assembly agreed with the president’s position “by requesting that the Colombian government recognize the belligerent character of the insurgent movements…as a sign of good faith towards a political status that would create faith in future negotiations…” according to the approved text…

The legislators also rejected the existence of “unilateral lists imposed by the imperialist U.S. government and other colonizing countries which consider freedom movements and other insubordinate states as terrorist.” – [ed. Personal translation]

The Colombian government has yet to reply to the Assembly’s statement though a pair of political analysts interviewed by RCN said that the measure could lead to the FARC and ELN establishing “embassies” on Venezuelan soil.

Image- BBC News

Sources (English)- BBC News

Sources (Spanish)- Clarin, El Tiempo, RCN