Colombia: ELN guerrillas announce end-of-year truce
An ELN rebel in a jungle in northwestern Colombia, August 31, 2017 (Illustration image).
© Federico Rios / REUTERS
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The ELN guerrillas, in peace negotiations with the Colombian government of Gustavo Petro, announced Monday, December 19 a "
unilateral ceasefire
" during the holiday season in Colombia.
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The truce will be in place "
from 6 a.m. on December 24, 2022 until 6 a.m. on January 2, 2023
," a spokeswoman for the organization said in a video posted on social media.
This end-of-year truce "
concerns only the military and state police forces
", explained the spokeswoman, speaking with a covered face, accompanied by six armed guerrillas in an unidentified place, surrounded by mountains.
“
We reserve the right to defend ourselves in the event of an attack
,” added the Guevarist organization.
Influenced by Liberation theology, the ELN used to call a truce for Christmas and the New Year.
"
Armed strike
"
The outbreak of a recent "
armed strike
" embarrassed the leftist government, which took office on August 7, which in November resumed the peace talks suspended by the former government of Iván Duque (2018-2022), and asked the rebels for "
coherence
".
Negotiations are ongoing, without a bilateral ceasefire, with Cuba, Norway and Venezuela as guarantors.
Active since 1964, the ELN has a force of some 2,500 fighters and a vast network of collaborators, according to independent estimates.
Although it has a central command, its fronts have a certain autonomy for the conduct of military operations.
(
With
AFP)
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Peace negotiations with the ELN in Colombia: cautious optimism following a first round of talks
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