Peace talks between Colombia and the FARC are suspended for the kidnapping of a general

President Juan Manuel Santos declared from the Ministry of Defense of Colombia. (Photo: Defense Ministry)

The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, on Sunday suspended the peace talks with the FARC, which take place since two years ago in Cuba, after the kidnapping of a general and two other people, attributed by the government to the Communist guerrillas.

“Tomorrow (today) peace negotiators were traveling to a new round of talks in Havana. I will tell the negotiators not to travel and that this negotiation is suspended until this is clarified and these people are released,” said Santos at a press conference.

The decision to suspend the peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), is given after learning this Sunday the kidnapping of Brigadier General Ruben Alzate, Force Commander of the Army Task Titan, in a secluded area of the department of Choco.

Meanwhile, the FARC negotiators in Cuba remained silent on Monday nearly 12 hours after the president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, suspend peace talks by Alzate’s kidnapping, according to the government.

A source following the peace talks said that the FARC negotiators had decided to “wait a while” before deciding, in order to clarify the facts.