The Colombian authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Dutch FARC guerrilla Tanja Nijmeijer via Interpol. The move was reported on Colombian radio station Caracol.

Nijmeijer is wanted as an active member of the outlawed FARC rebel movement. In an interview for Radio Netherlands Worldwide, she insisted she had not been kidnapped by the group and admitted taking part in attacks in the Colombian capital Bogota. She has been a member of the leftwing rebel movement for around eight years.

On Tuesday the United States authorities announced they were also seeking Nijmeijer’s arrest for her alleged participation in the kidnapping of three US citizens.

The Dutch government sees no reason to revoke Tanja Nijmeijer’s citizenship, says Interior Minister Piet Hein Donner. He made the remarks in response to questions from MP and fellow Christian Democrat Coskun Çörüz. She compared Nijmeijer’s involvement with the FARC to fighting on the side of foreign forces.

However, Mr Donner said Ms Nijmeijer was not involved in action directed against the Netherlands, and as she is Dutch by birth, the possibility to revoke her citizenship is limited.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide