Colombia’s ELN rebel commander orders ceasefire beginning today

The commander of Colombia’s Marxist ELN rebels on Friday ordered hisfighters to begin a ceasefire this weekend as the group strugglesthrough complicated peace talks with the government aimed at ending fivedecades of war.Nicolas Rodriguez, known by his war alias Gabino, told the NationalLiberation Army (ELN) guerrillas to begin their part in a bilateralceasefire agreement with President Juan Manuel Santos’ governmentstarting today and running through mid-January.The ELN is in talks in Ecuador to end its part in a conflict involvinggovernment troops, leftist rebels, criminal gangs and right-wingparamilitary groups.Since negotiations began in February, the ELN has continued to takehostages for ransom and stepped up bomb attacks in recent weeks on oilcompanies.“It wasn’t easy to reach this agreement but finally we achieved it.Since talks began with Santos’s government we have insisted on theurgency of this ceasefire because it stops offensive actions and bringsimportant humanitarian relief to the Colombian population,” Rodriguezsaid in a video message.During the ceasefire, agreed on September 4, the insurgent group haspledged to suspend hostage taking, attacks on roads and oilinstallations, 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 temporaryceasefire... can be extended and become the first step to peace with theELN,” Santos said in a national address on Friday.The centre-right president signed a peace deal with the largerRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in late 2016 after negotiationsin 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.