The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, has set a maximum deadline of one week for the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Justice to act against the highest responsible of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), Fredy Castillo Carrillo, known by the alias 'Pinocho'.
In a message disseminated on his social networks, De la Espriella has addressed directly to the heads of both ministries: "Ministers of Defense and Justice, please coordinate, within a peremptory deadline of one week, the submission to justice of this subject".
The president has emphasized that he does not contemplate any type of concession towards the leader of the ACSN and has reiterated the conditions that, in his opinion, must govern the actions of the State: "Remember: there are no negotiations, delays, or demands here. If he does not surrender and continues to confront the State, committing crimes and causing harm, the order is to take him down, as is legally appropriate," he has stated, concluding his message with a forceful "Firm for the Homeland! Long live Christ the King!".
De la Espriella's words come after 'Pinocho' granted an interview to the Colombian magazine 'Semana', in which he expressed his willingness to make himself available to the authorities, but conditioning that step on the approval of a submission law that establishes "clear legal rules" for members of armed groups who wish to lay down their arms.
The publication of this interview occurs in a context of internal tension within the ACSN, following the death of Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, alias 'Bendito Menor', identified as the highest responsible of the Javier Cáceres Front of that armed organization.