Rodrigo Granda
Encyclopedia
Ricardo González also known as Rodrigo Granda is a Colombia
n Venezuela
n member of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). He serves as international spokesman of the guerrilla organization.
where Colombian authorities arrested him. He had been in Caracas
, Venezuela participating in a conference in representation of the FARC guerrilla, organization for which Granda is an international spokesman, for this he was dubbed as "FARC's foreign minister". His arrest created diplomatic tensions between the government of Hugo Chávez
and Álvaro Uribe
.
persuaded President Uribe to do so, as concession for the "humanitarian exchange
" which consists in the exchange of criminals held by the government (included Granda) for hostages held by the FARC. On October 8, 2007 Granda visited FARC campsites in the mountains of Colombia and announced his return to the FARC to participate in the negotiations for a possible humanitarian exchange.
along with alias Iván Márquez
and other group of guerrillas to meet President Hugo Chávez
and Colombian senator Piedad Córdoba
in the Palacio de Miraflores
presidential palace in Caracas
in an attempt to negotiate an exchange of prisoners.
After the failure of the negotiations and the diplomatic tensions generated from this between the governments of Álvaro Uribe and Hugo Chávez, it was reported that Granda was among those registered to vote in Venezuela for the Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 2007
. CNE member Vicente Díaz told reporters that Granda can't be removed from the electoral registry at this time, but that he is not allowed to vote due to an administrative objection from 2005.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n member of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). He serves as international spokesman of the guerrilla organization.
Arrest in Venezuela
His name became well-known because of the events that began on December 13, 2004 when he was captured in Venezuela allegedly by Venezuelan officials and transported to the Colombia-Venezuela border in CúcutaCúcuta
Cúcuta is a Colombian city, capital of Norte de Santander, in the northeast of the country. Due to its proximity to the Colombian-Venezuelan border, Cúcuta is an important commercial center. The city has the constitutional category of Special District. It is located at the most active...
where Colombian authorities arrested him. He had been in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela participating in a conference in representation of the FARC guerrilla, organization for which Granda is an international spokesman, for this he was dubbed as "FARC's foreign minister". His arrest created diplomatic tensions between the government of Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
and Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
.
Release and return to the FARC
Granda was later released by the Colombian government after President of France Nicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
persuaded President Uribe to do so, as concession for the "humanitarian exchange
Humanitarian exchange
The Humanitarian Exchange or Humanitarian Accord refers to the possible accord to exchange hostages for prisoners between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrilla group and the Government of Colombia....
" which consists in the exchange of criminals held by the government (included Granda) for hostages held by the FARC. On October 8, 2007 Granda visited FARC campsites in the mountains of Colombia and announced his return to the FARC to participate in the negotiations for a possible humanitarian exchange.
Humanitarian exchange negotiations
In November 2007 Granda traveled to VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
along with alias Iván Márquez
Iván Márquez
Luciano Marín Arango, aka "Iván Márquez" is a Colombian guerrilla leader, member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , part of its Secretariat higher command and advisor to the Northwestern and Caribbean blocs.According to the news agency Anncol it is likely that Márquez will be the new...
and other group of guerrillas to meet President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
and Colombian senator Piedad Córdoba
Piedad Córdoba
Piedad Esneda Córdoba Ruiz , better known by her nom de guerre Teodora de Bolívar or Gaitán is a former Liberal Senator of Colombia who served for four terms from 1994 to 2010, and a former Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
in the Palacio de Miraflores
Palacio de Miraflores
The Palacio de Miraflores is the official workplace of the President of Venezuela. It is located on Urdaneta Avenue, Libertador Municipality in Caracas....
presidential palace in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
in an attempt to negotiate an exchange of prisoners.
After the failure of the negotiations and the diplomatic tensions generated from this between the governments of Álvaro Uribe and Hugo Chávez, it was reported that Granda was among those registered to vote in Venezuela for the Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 2007
Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 2007
A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 2 December 2007 to amend 69 articles of the 1999 Constitution. Reform was needed, according to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, to implement his socialist agenda; detractors said he was using the reforms to become a dictator.The referendum was...
. CNE member Vicente Díaz told reporters that Granda can't be removed from the electoral registry at this time, but that he is not allowed to vote due to an administrative objection from 2005.