The commander of Colombia’s Marxist ELN rebels on Friday ordered his
fighters to begin a ceasefire this weekend as the group struggles
through complicated peace talks with the government aimed at ending five
decades of war.
Nicolas Rodriguez, known by his war alias Gabino, told the National
Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas to begin their part in a bilateral
ceasefire agreement with President Juan Manuel Santos’ government
starting today and running through mid-January.
The ELN is in talks in Ecuador to end its part in a conflict involving
government troops, leftist rebels, criminal gangs and right-wing
paramilitary groups.
Since negotiations began in February, the ELN has continued to take
hostages for ransom and stepped up bomb attacks in recent weeks on oil
companies.
“It wasn’t easy to reach this agreement but finally we achieved it.
Since talks began with Santos’s government we have insisted on the
urgency of this ceasefire because it stops offensive actions and brings
important humanitarian relief to the Colombian population,” Rodriguez
said in a video message.
During the ceasefire, agreed on September 4, the insurgent group has
pledged to suspend hostage taking, attacks on roads and oil
installations, the use of landmines and the recruitment of minors.
In turn, the government agreed to improve protection for community leaders and conditions for about 450 jailed rebels.
“Colombians, we must never stop seeking peace. I hope this temporary
ceasefire... can be extended and become the first step to peace with the
ELN,” Santos said in a national address on Friday.
The centre-right president signed a peace deal with the larger
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in late 2016 after negotiations
in Cuba that lasted four years.
Founded by radical Roman Catholic priests in 1964, the ELN has sought peace with the government before but made little progress.
This would be the first ceasefire with the ELN.
The ELN is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union.
Rebels of Colombia’s Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) arrive in a boat in the northwestern jungles of Colombia.