Havana, January 14 (RHC)-- Peace in Colombia will prevail only if the government favors effective change to achieve democracy and dignity, said guerrilla members, questioning recent statements by President Juan Manuel Santos.

In a communiqué released on Monday, guerrilla representative Ivan Marques said that they do not agree with certain statements made by Santos last year. The president had been speaking about his personal role in military operations against the rebels and had referred to his 'peace strategy' as a process that originated in 2000, with the launching of the so-called Plan Colombia.

Santos has subsequently confirmed that Plan Colombia did not target drug trafficking but the guerrillas, Ivan Marquez said, adding that the plan was designed with growing social unrest in mind.

According to the Cuban news agency, the Revolutionary Armed Forces guerrilla group hold that such statements do not contribute to raising trust between the negotiating parties, currently trying to reach a peace accord for the country.

Ivan Marquez said he regretted the Colombian government’s continuation of its military offensive, and he described it as fatal obstinacy that deprives the peace talks of the necessary confidence to advance.