Telesur: we did not make the FARC video on Marulanda´s death

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Telesur: we did not make the FARC video on Marulanda´s death

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Telesur: we did not make the FARC video on Marulanda´s death

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Caracas, Venezuela, 30 May 2008. Yesterday, regional TV network Telesur was forced to clarify its role over the making of a video in which FARC officially announced the death of its leader Marulando from a heart attack. In the video, a FARC regional leader Timoleon -nicknamed Timochenko- appeared in a semi natural surrounding area suggesting footage was not filmed in the Colombian jungle.

Speculation followed the video and its first official broadcaster Telesur.  Furthermore, the Venezuelan Home Minister and hostage negotiator, Ramón Chacin, stated the video was not shot in his country at all. Chacin said  that Timoleon commanded a FARC unit at Magdalena Medio, a zone near Venezuela, and the foliage in the video was certainly Colombian.

Today, conservative Colombian Newspaper El Tiempo -own by the Santon family which has two members in government- published an article echoing ideas expressed by the opposition in Venezuela over the origin and content of the FARC video. Quoting the director of newspaper Tal Cual Teodoro Petkoff - a Venezuelan former guerrilla man and now conservative opposition member - the article stated the video content would have been the real cause of the resignation of Minister of Information and Communication Andres Izarra few days ago. Izarra who is also Chief of regional Telesur would have been responsible for the making and transmission of the Timochenko video last week. Petkoff suggested that ex Minister Izarra did not read between the lines of the new approaching mood of President Chavez toward Colombia; thus, he blundered it by making the video known during an ill time. In reaction to speculation over the making and timing of the FARC video, Telesur issued a communiqué on Thursday. It stated the video was handled to the station on 25 May 2008.  

Moreover, it was only yesterday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed his views over the death of FARC leader Marulanda. Chavez expressed sadness over the demise of the FARC leader; none in Venezuela was happy with his death, he added.   Chavez also regreted the lost opportunity to meet Marulanda personally to further the peace process in Colombian and the Humanitarian exchange of FARC hostages. Finally, he expressed hopes for future talks between Colombian government and guerrilla.

Sources: Telesur,  VTV, El Tiempo, BBC Mundo, Caracol, Tal Cual,

Related stories: FARC Marulanda is dead...again? (updated II), Venezuelan Information Minister resigns over official footage copyright row (Updated II),