Colombia's defense minister in trouble over guerrilla conspiracy theories
by Adriaan Alsema May 17, 2021
Colombias defense minister is facing increasing pushback over his baseless claims that guerrillas are behind swelling anti-government protests.
Defense Minister Diego Molano found himself being contradicted by the governor of the Cauca province, Elias Laharrondo, on Saturday after claiming that four community leaders were dissidents of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group.
Molano claimed that the social leaders were behind violent protest that broke out in Cauca capital Popayan on Friday in response to the suicide of a 17-year-old girl who claimed she was sexually abused by the police.
The defense minister has consistently blamed FARC dissidents and ELN guerrillas for the protests since they began on April 28.
Molano desperately needs evidence of guerrilla involvement because the defense minister deployed the military to the countrys largest cities and almost 50 people were killed.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-defense-minister-in-trouble-over-guerrilla-conspiracy-theories/