Bogota, July 1 (PL-RHC) -- The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) has rejected the recent statements by former President Alvaro Uribe, saying the rebels put "a rifle to people's necks" demanding that they re-elect Juan Manuel Santos.

In a statement released online, the FARC-EP described it as "a new episode of slander and delirium" from Uribe, a recognized enemy of peace and reconciliation between Colombians. Uribe had insisted that the FARC-EP forced rural voters to re-elect President Santos.

The rebels referred to the interview which the former president and newly elected senator held with NTN24 news channel on June 26th.

The FARC-EP states that similar irresponsible and slanderous statements completely without evidence, and aimed at sabotaging and hindering peace and reconciliation between the Colombian people, are becoming a habit of the former president.

"For this reason, they cannot remain unanswered, by those of us who have placed our bets on democratic peace, change and social justice for our people," concludes the statement dated by the Secretariat of the rebels, from the mountains of Colombia.