Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is accusing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of harboring fugitive Marxist terrorists and providing them a safehaven from authorities. Chavez?s Bolivarian Revolution is based on quazi-Marxist ideology, and even Uribe?s though that Chavez might support his ideological brethren, is likely to have enraged Uribe, who is trying to fight a sizable domestic Marxist group, the FARC . According to The Canadian Press, Uribe issued a daring statement on January 16 accusing Venezuela outright of sheltering terrorists inside its borders. This row has developed in light of the December 13 capture of FARC?s foreign minister, Rodrigo Granda, kidnapped in a Caracas caf? by bounty hunters?Venezuelan soldiers?and paid for by Colombian police when he was delivered across the border. Five Venezuelan National Guardsmen from the anti-kidnap unit were subsequently arrested and charged with treason. Interestingly, Granda had a Venezuelan passport and was attending a meeting of leftists in Caracas. According to Reuters, Chavez ?reacted furiously to the seizure.? Uribe?s statement contended: ?Colombia [Country Profile] will deliver proof to the government of Venezuela about the protection that authorities of this country provided to Mr. Granda. The sheltering of terrorists violates the sovereignty of Colombia.? ?Proof? was a reference to seven specific FARC leaders hiding in Venezuela along with specifically named FARC camps in the country. Chavez denies permitting a FARC presence, and Information Minister Andres Izarra has challenged Uribe to bring forth conclusive evidence of such, saying ?There is no real evidence Colombian irregulars receive any protection or shelter from the Venezuelan government.? Izarra admitted that Granda lived in Venezuela but his arrest had never been requested by Colombia.

This increasingly serious dispute has brought to the surface long simmering tensions between the neighboring nations over FARC rebels hiding in Venezuela. Venezuela, after recalling the Ambassador, suspending commercial ties, and childishly demanding an apology for the ?crime,? has now dispatched troops to the Colombian border for security checks but contend the move has nothing to do with this dispute. Venezuelan politicians have called for a more tough stance against Colombia for its ?interventionism? and the US for ?fomenting tensions between the two countries.? The Colombian legislature stands firmly behind Uribe?s latest move to rid his nation of the terrorist group. And, Uribe boldly confirmed offering a reward of nearly US$2 million for ?the apprehension of Colombian terrorists, wherever they are.? Vice President Francisco Santos even said, ?It would be great if all the bounty hunters in the world came to capture those bandits [FARC]. The money?s there for them, and the rewards are good.? Colombia is still diligently searching for FARC leader Manuel ?Sureshot? Marulanda among others. Uribe has rightly contended, along with Washington, that senior level Venezuelan officials have aided FARC rebels, including Granda, and established camps for them.

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