Colombian government begins talks with Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces

The Colombian Government will open a “space for socio-legal conversation” with the paramilitary groups Self-Defense Forces of the Conquerors of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN)the Peace Commissioner’s Office reported on Thursday.

(Further: Unpunctuality, Petro’s characteristic trait: how can it affect his leadership?).

“The President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, in development of the Peace policy, authorized the installation of the Socio-Legal Conversation Space with the Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (ACSN)“, reported that organization on its X account, where it published the resolution signed by the president.

The measure was made official through resolution 300 of August 1, 2024 signed by Petro, who last Monday reported that he had also opened a similar space with the Clan del Golfo or Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC), the largest criminal group in the country, which will be led by political scientist Álvaro Jiménez, former negotiator for the M-19 guerrilla group.

(Read: ADR to finance projects to replace illicit coca plantations with food).

“The space for socio-legal conversation will be aimed at developing conversations with the Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada Conquistadores, verifying their willingness to move towards the rule of law, establishing the terms of submission to justice in the terms permitted by law and building peace in the territories.“, reads the resolution.

The Government delegates for this new peace front are Óscar Mauricio Silva Osorio, who will act as coordinator, and he will be accompanied by Marcela Bustamante Morón and Ricardo Ernesto Villa Sánchez.

The Self-Defense Forces of the Conquistadores of the Sierra Nevada, also known as Los Pachenca, were born from the demobilization of the paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the group to which the most homicides are attributed during the armed conflict.

(See: National Government confirms that it is resuming offensives against the ELN guerrillas).

This band operates mainly in the department of Magdalena, having its base in the Sierra Nevada. from Santa Marta, from where he runs drug trafficking and extortion networks in this tourist area.

Furthermore, it is one of the groups that has shown its willingness to negotiate with the government, declaring a unilateral ceasefire more than a year and a half ago while waiting to establish dialogues that have not yet materialized.

(Further: Government appointed Daniela Andrade Valencia, investigated in the UNGRD case, as a notary).

This will be theThe fifth space for socio-legal conversation -a category that the ‘total peace’ law gives to approaches with groups that do not have political recognition- after those initiated with the bands of Buenaventura, Quibdó and Valle de Aburrá and the Clan del Golfo.

EFE