Iván Márquez and Jesús Santrich take up arms 1:33
(CNN Spanish) -
Hernán Darío Velásquez Saldarriaga, better known as 'El Paisa', became the leader of the mobile column Teófilo Forero, one of the most important guerrilla groups in the FARC.
'El Paisa' was once described as one of the most violent and bloodthirsty guerrillas in the FARC, by former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
According to the Colombian Prosecutor's Office, the ex-guerrilla caused the death of 36 people in the El Nogal Club, injured 158 and caused considerable material damage.
For this attack, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison on September 11, 2009. The Prosecutor's Office charged him with the crimes of terrorism, aggravated homicide, and manufacturing, trafficking, and carrying firearms or ammunition.
'El Paisa', the FARC guerrilla who attacked the Bogota elite, joins the peace process
“Santrich” and “El Paisa”, outside the JEP 1:02
He was also sentenced to pay a fine of more than US $ 23 million.
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He was also charged in November 2010 for the massacre of nine councilors of the Rivera municipality (Huila) when a group of guerrillas from the 'Teófilo Forero' Column - led by 'El Paisa' - shot at the members of that corporation and caused them death, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
'El Paisa': from negotiator to dissident
In April 2016, 'El Paisa' joined the FARC negotiating team in Havana, Cuba, a process with which he demobilized.
But in July 2018, alias 'El Paisa' left the Territorial Space for Training and Reincorporation (ETCR) of Miravalle, in San Vicente del Caguán, Caquetá, where he concentrated together with other ex-combatants.
Spokespersons for the FARC party said that the former guerrilla leaders left the rural areas because they fear for their lives before alleged military operations against them.
On April 26, 2019, the JEP ordered the arrest of Velásquez Saldarriaga for "seriously breaching the conditions to access and maintain the benefits" of the peace agreement.
Farc