Colombia’s ex-FARC leaders admit kidnapping and other crimes

In court, an ex-commander of the defunct rebel group formally admits that kidnappings were official FARC policy.

Bogota, Colombia — Eight ex-commanders of Colombia’s now-defunct rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have formally admitted to accusations of kidnappings as a policy within their ranks and other crimes against humanity in a transitional justice court on Friday. The ex-leaders released a joint declaration stating they accept the accusations against them in full by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) court set up under the transitional justice system to try war crimes as part of the continuing peace process. “As we have repeatedly stated, our kidnapping policies are unjustifiable,” the ex-rebels told reporters on Friday.