The president of Colombia announced a “bilateral ceasefire” with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), the FARC dissidence and paramilitary groups, starting this Sunday and until June 30, 2023.
The ceasefire will be “extendable depending on the progress in the negotiations,” added Gustavo Pedro, in a message broadcast on Saturday night on social networks.
A total of five groups announced the ceasefire: the ELN, the Central Staff of the dissident Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Segunda Marquetalia, the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) and the Sierra Nevada paramilitaries.
“We agreed to a bilateral ceasefire with the ELN, the Segunda Marquetalia, the Central General Staff [dos dissidentes das FARC], the AGC (Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia) and the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces from January 1 to June 30, 2023, extendable depending on the progress of the negotiations. Total peace will be a reality,” Petro said, in a message shortly before the start of the New Year, on Twitter.
Since he took office on August 7, Gustavo Petro and the government have defended a “total peace” policy, having already resumed negotiations with the ELN in Caracas.
“It is my wish, at the end of the year, that peace be possible. This is a bold act. The bilateral ceasefire obliges the armed organizations and the State to respect it. There will be a national and international verification mechanism. May peace be between us. Happy New Year”, added the Colombian president.
According to the Colombian Presidency, the bilateral ceasefire will be subject to national and international verification by the UN Verification Mission, the Organization of American States Peace Process Support Mission (MAPP/OEA), the Office of Justice and the Catholic Church.
At the moment, “a ceasefire with other organizations is not foreseen,” added the Presidency, but the Government will review the results of the ongoing processes and other unilateral ceasefires to make future decisions.
The announcement did not take long to receive positive reactions, including that of the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, who stated: “The United Nations supports all efforts to reduce violence in the territories, protect the communities affected by the conflict and build peace in Colombia”.
Source: Observadora
