Rodrigo Londoño, former head of the FARC, offers to talk with the ELN and help achieve total peace

Rodrigo Londoño during a press conference in Medellín, on January 4, 2021. Luis Eduardo Noriega A. (EFE)

Rodrigo Londoño, former military chief of the extinct FARC guerrilla and now president of the Comunes party, published a public letter this Thursday afternoon addressed to Antonio García, current ELN commander, in which he offers his help for the construction of total peace.

“I am ready to talk with the ELN in the place and conditions that the Petro government and the authorities allow.

My desire is to contribute a grain of sand in the daunting task of achieving total peace that the Colombian nation longs for, ”Londoño wrote on his Twitter account.

In the letter, Londoño assures that the success of the negotiations between the government and the ELN depends on the well-being of hundreds of communities and the preservation of thousands of human lives.

“The experience we had in the peace talks in Havana, which led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian State and the extinct FARC-EP, showed us that the enemies of peace are strong and powerful.

However, none of them is part of the current government, and, on the contrary, they stalk any attempt to negotiate a solution to the conflict that persists in the country”, writes the former commander Timochenko.

The letter, which comes at a difficult time for the peace process with the last guerrilla in Latin America, seeks to set up a meeting between Londoño and García.

The former FARC commander says that the internal deliberations of the ELN should help to sign peace as soon as possible and assures that despite the contradictions that have occurred during the negotiations, especially the failed bilateral ceasefire for six months announced by President Petro and denied by the ELN guerrilla two days later, the "will" to act for the benefit of society should prevail.

"I make available the experience of the extinct FARC-EP, convinced that in respectful exchange new elements always flourish for a negotiated solution to persistent violence," the document says.

And he continues: “In this way, I will be ready to talk with you, Antonio, if you wish, in the place and conditions that the government of President Petro and the authorities allow.

My fraternal embrace, convinced of the need to launch peace in Colombia once and for all."

Here is the full letter:

Public letter to Antonio García, Commander of the National Liberation Army – ELN

Bogota, January 11, 2023

Respected Antonio:

There are many reasons that motivate this letter.

Of course, one of them is that the search for a political and negotiated solution to the armed conflict between the Colombian State and the ELN is a public matter and of national interest.

The success of this new attempt to stop the armed uprising depends on the well-being of hundreds of communities and the preservation of thousands of human lives.

For this reason, I am interested in helping the development of the difficulties that arise in a political negotiation.

The experience we had in the peace talks in Havana, which led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian State and the extinct FARC-EP, showed us that the enemies of peace are strong and powerful.

However, none of them is part of the current government, and, on the contrary, they stalk any attempt at a negotiated solution to the conflict that persists in the country.

This government, democratically elected by millions of Colombians who dream of a just and peaceful country, is deeply committed to silencing the guns of all armed actors, as well as to social justice and to the deepest needs of our people. .

It is evident that by electing him, the majority of Colombia gave a resounding no to violence and war, they voted to put an end to the use of weapons in politics.

For this reason, in the face of the disagreements and contradictions inherent in this political negotiation, the will to act for the benefit of the majority of the country must prevail.

Own difficulties or unnecessary tensions, arising inside or outside the negotiating table, must be promptly addressed with greatness and generosity.

Peace demands acts of heroism and creativity to bring this process of dialogue to a successful conclusion.

In these matters, the participation of external facilitators and conflict resolution experts who build the bridges of common understanding that negotiators are denied is of vital importance.

I am confident that the internal deliberations in the entire membership of the National Liberation Army will feed with proposals aimed at promptly reaching a peace agreement with the Colombian State.

For this purpose, I make available the experience of the extinct FARC-EP, convinced that in respectful exchange new elements always flourish for a negotiated solution to persistent violence.

In this way, I will be ready to talk with you, Antonio, if you wish, in the place and conditions that the government of President Petro and the authorities allow.

My desire is to contribute a grain of sand in the daunting task of achieving the total peace that the Colombian nation yearns for.

My fraternal embrace, convinced of the need to launch peace in Colombia once and for all.

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