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| Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a leftist and former guerrilla, announced late on Saturday a January ceasefire with five illegal armed groups to support peace talks. |
Petro has pledged to end the Andean nation’s internal conflict, which has run for almost six decades and left at least 450,000 dead between 1985 and 2018. “This is a bold act,” Petro wrote on Twitter. “The bilateral ceasefire obliges the armed organizations and the state to respect it. There will be a national and international verification mechanism.”
Among the groups are the leftist guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) as well as dissident groups run by former members of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Segunda Marquetalia, and Estado Mayor Central.
In a separate statement, the Colombian government said it had received letters from society, the church, and many community organizations asking to end the violence. The government added that it would issue a specific decree for each organization, which would determine the duration and conditions of the ceasefire. It is set to end on June 30 but can be extended.
In the case of the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, the FARC EP, Segunda Marquetalia and the Conquistadores Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada, it is clarified that the process is submission to justice and a process of dialogue.
However, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the FARC-EP Central General Staff could initiate a peace process with the National Government. Earlier in December, ELN declared a nine-day unilateral ceasefire over the Christmas period and completed the first cycle of peace talks between the two parties in Venezuela’s capital Caracas. However, they issued a statement denying they have agreed to the cease-fire set forth by President Petro last week.
ELN Denial
After a communiqué was released in which the ELN denied the bilateral cessation announced by President Gustavo Petro, the president called an extraordinary meeting to consider resuming actions and operations against that illegal armed group.
Response from United States Politician
However, another important factor in security decisions in Colombia is the United States. Every year, the US sends economic aid to the country to finance the war against drugs and terrorism.
When the US Representative of Florida, Mario Díaz-Balart, was consulted on Tuesday about the possible cessation of hostilities, he quoted the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill. “Appeasement is like feeding a crocodile expecting it to eat you last. I believe that one has to know the intentions of groups and individuals. Appeasement throughout history has never worked,” the Republican told Caracol Radio.
In addition, the Cuban-American congressman stated that the Republicans will seek to condition US aid to Colombia from the House of Representatives. “There are many things that we can do to condition any type of assistance, relationship and help, to things that are positive for the people of Colombia and for the security of the United States,” he said.