The change of government comes after leftist rebels said they had not discussed a truce with Bogota.
The Colombian government has withdrawn its announcement that it has reached a ceasefire with one of the country’s largest remaining armed groups, a day after insurgents from the National Liberation Army (ELN). know they were not be part of any such agreement.
President Gustavo Petro announced on New Year’s Eve that a temporary ceasefire had been agreed with the country’s five largest armed groups, including the ELN, from January 1 to June 30.
But ELN, last month concluded First round of peace talks with Petro’s left-wing government, said in a statement on Tuesday that it “did not discuss any proposal for a bilateral ceasefire” with Bogota and “therefore, there is no such agreement.” exist”.
Instead, the group said, the ceasefire was a “proposal to be considered”.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alfonso Prada said in a press conference that the ELN had repeatedly raised the importance of a bilateral ceasefire and asked the government for a response. unilateral Christmas truce by ELN.
“In this sense, the Colombian government has declared a bilateral ceasefire,” Prada told reporters. “But in light of the position made public yesterday, according to which the aforementioned ceasefire protocol should be brought to the negotiating table, we have decided to suspend it.”
The change comes as Petro continues to pursue its “comprehensive peace” plan, seeking to end nearly six decades armed conflictkilled at least 450,000 people between 1985 and 2018.
The Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, under which members of the left-wing rebel group disarmed. But a few FARC Dissidents refused the deal and picked up the weapon.
Violence is on the rise in Colombia in recent years, especially in areas beyond government control and where armed groups engage in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. The Indepaz Research Institute recorded nearly 100 massacres last year.
Peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN in neighboring Venezuela “successful” ending on December 12, both teams said, despite not reaching a ceasefire. Another round of talks is scheduled to take place in Mexico, but a date has yet to be set.
On Wednesday, Prada called on the ELN to declare a verifiable truce when the matter is discussed in the upcoming negotiations.
“Only when we fully agree with the conditions of the protocols can we lift the suspension,” the minister said, adding that in the meantime, the military and The police can continue to attack the rebels.
Prada said the ceasefires remained in effect for four other groups: the FARC dissidents known as the Estado Mayor Central and the Segunda Marquetalia, the del Golfo family and the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Force.
According to official estimates, the ELN has about 3,500 fighters across Colombia.
