Colombia

Top Farc woman rebel surrenders

Article published on the 2008-05-20 Latest update 2008-05-20 13:40 TU

Farc rebel Nelly Avila Moreno, known as Karina
(Photo: Reuters)

After decades on the run, Nelly Avila Moreno, known as Karina, one of the top women leaders of the rebel group Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (Farc) surrendered to Colombian officials Sunday, the latest blow to the guerrilla group after two of its members were killed in March.

"She was known for her cruelty and daring and for the massacres and beatings she ordered over 20 years with the guerrillas. So she was a very important military target," said Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

The left-wing armed group has been fighting for the past four decades and is allegedly funded by kidnapping and cocaine trafficking.

President Alvaro Uribe had urged Karina, 45, to surrender in exchange for security guarantees. She had been captured numerous times and lost an eye in a previous skirmish.

She is likely to be tried for murder, extortion and terrorism.

She took command of Farc's 47th Front in Antioquia region, two months ago when her immediate boss, Ivan Rios, was murdered in exchange for a 600,000 euro government bounty. She herself carried over a half-million euro bounty on her head and her family and associates encouraged her to turn herself in before she was murdered.

Farc has suffered lagging morale this year after two murders of senior members and the betrayal of a top leader.