Colombia’s government and rebel leaders reached a major agreement Sunday to de-escalate their conflict beginning July 20, months after a resurgence in fighting jeopardized fragile peace talks aimed at ending the country’s 50-year civil war.
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“The national government, from July 20, will launch a process of de-escalation of military action, in response to the suspension of offensive actions by the FARC“, said a joint statement read by Cuban and Norwegian diplomats, who have been mediating the talks.
Peace talks between Colombia and the Marxist guerrilla organization FARC, which have been taking place for over two years in Havana, have been going badly.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the move by the rebel guerrilla group, but stated FARC needs to do more.
The closest the government has been to a cease-fire was when it agreed earlier this year to stop air bombing FARC camps for brief periods of time – after the FARC announced a unilateral ceasefire in December.
The Farc’s chief negotiator at the talks in Cuba, Ivan Marquez, said he hoped the ceasefire could lead to a bilateral truce.
Speaking about the wariness of the Colombian people when it comes to negotiating for peace with FARC, De la Calle said, “The harsh truth is that Colombians don’t believe in the peace process”. Cuba and Norway have offered to act guarantors in the talks, with the help of Chile and Venezuela.
The armed strife in Colombia dates back to 1964, and has involved drug gangs and right-wing paramilitaries as well as the radical leftist FARC. All four nations have issued urgent warnings about the need for an end to the conflict.
Dozens more rebels and soldiers have died since the recent escalation of violence after the FARC suspended the ex- unilateral cease-fire in May.
Recently, rebels have stepped up attacks on oil infrastructure, with dozens of security personnel killed and Ecopetrol pipelines and other assets damaged.
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Since that truce ended, about 30 rebels have been killed in army operations and recent surveys show the public is increasingly wary about the peace process.
