Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo on Tuesday called on armed groups to “please” ceasefire in the face of increasing violence in the Colombian Pacific and fears that it could affect security at the COP16 in Cali next October.
At a press conference where the Government presented the agenda for the international summit, the chancellor addressed “The illegal groups in these areas continue to promote violence” to ask them to “give a signal to the country and voluntarily agree among themselves to a ceasefire of hostilities”.
“Please give that gift to the country and the communities,” Murillo added.
This request was supported by the Vice President and Minister for Equality, Francia Márquez, who reaffirmed: “It is an opportunity to allow a territory so affected by violence to have a moment of joy”.
Despite the constant statements of the Colombian Government guaranteeing security for COP16, fears of possible attacks by FARC dissidents continue, especially after an account of X of the Central General Staff (EMC), the main FARC dissident group, said that “COP16 will fail even if the city is militarized by gringos”.
However, The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, said that they have not received any concerns from the participating international delegations about the security of the summit..
In recent months, the EMC has increased its attacks against security forces and the population in the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, whose capital is Cali, even going so far as to attack military positions in Jamundí, a city just a few minutes from Cali, on several occasions.
This has raised questions about the security of the summit, which is expected to be attended by more than 12,000 international visitors and will bring together more than 190 countries, observer organisations, youth groups, civil society, academics and the general public.
EFE
