The National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group announced Monday that it will declare a unilateral “ceasefire” for ten days, ahead of the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday (May 29th).
“We are declaring a unilateral ceasefire from May 25 at 00:00 until June 3 at midnight, so that all those who wish to vote can do so peacefully,” the group said in a statement, adding that its members have reservations. the right to defend themselves in the event of an attack “by governmental or non-governmental forces.
The organization, founded by radicalized Catholic priests inspired by Che Guevara’s ideology and theology of liberation in 1964, officially the last to continue the armed struggle in Colombia, thus aims to contribute to a “better atmosphere”. “.
The presidential election presents, from the point of view of the ELN leadership, the opportunity to find a “true political solution” in Colombia and to address “the main political issues in the country, such as corruption, the assassination of social leaders, and drug trafficking.”
The Colombian Ministry of Defense immediately rejected the announcement, accusing the rebel group of trying to “take a stand for future talks” with the next government.
“Security here is guaranteed by the security forces,” Defense Minister Diego Molano insisted during a public event.
Colombians are being called to the polls later this month to elect a successor to Conservative President Ivan Duque, who is constitutionally barred from running for re-election.
Center-left senator Gustavo Petro is said to be the big favorite, according to opinion polls, ahead of right-wing candidate Federico Gutierrez. According to opinion polls, Mr. Petros, a former member of the far-left movement of April 19 (Movimiento 19 de Abril, M-19, laid down his arms in the early 1990s), will win the first round, but not by a margin. allowed him to avoid a run-off against Mr Gutierrez on 19 June.
Colombia has never met a left-wing government, and the victory of the Pacto Histórico por Colombia (PHxC) candidate, who was elected vice-president by an Afro-Colombian feminist, would be a political earthquake in the Andean state.
Mr Petros has already announced that he intends to negotiate, within the confines of a “comprehensive peace process”, with “all” parties involved in the war, which suggests that both the ELN will be involved in the dialogue. as well as the dissidents of the former rebel organization Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who reject the 2016 peace agreement.
His opponent, Mr Gutierrez, for his part, called for a full-scale fight against the ELN and, like the outgoing government, set a prerequisite for the start of any negotiations to end the organisation’s violent actions, especially attacks. against the security forces.
Outgoing President Duce – whose term ends in August – buried the peace talks that began during his predecessor’s days with the ELN a few months after he took power, following the deadly bombing of the Bogota police academy in 2019. the responsibility for which the organization assumed.
The ELN currently has an estimated 2,500 fighters, with its strongholds mostly in areas adjacent to Venezuela; it is believed to have an extensive support network in urban areas.
The rebel group had already announced a truce a few days ahead of the parliamentary elections held in mid-March, in which the Colombian left prevailed.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
