BOGOTA, Colombia — The army has captured a senior commander of the ELN, Colombia’s second largest rebel group, the government said Tuesday, calling it a major blow to the guerrillas that could push them closer to a peace deal.
Carlos Marin Guarin, who uses the nom de guerre “Pablito,” was detained Monday in the capital of Bogota after months of intelligence gathering, army chief Gen. Mario Montoya said. He did not give further details on the operation.
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos called Guarin’s capture pivotal, saying it could help tricky peace negotiations with the rebels.
Among the crimes attributed to Guarin are the 1992 murder of the Roman Catholic bishop of the state of Arauca and more than 200 attacks on the U.S.-owned Cano Limon oil pipeline in northern Colombia, Santos said.
