He National government confirmed on Monday that it resumed offensive operations against the National Liberation Army (ELN) after the longest bilateral ceasefire ever agreed with the guerrilla group ended on Saturday.
This was reported by the Minister of Defense, Ivan Velasquezwho assured that if “There is no ceasefire” current, the “Offensive operations resume“, as the uniformed officers were already instructed on Commander of the Military Forces, Admiral Francisco Cubidesand the Director of Police, General William René Salamanca.
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The Government and the ELN began a new peace negotiation in November 2022, which is currently frozenand as part of that process, a 180-day bilateral ceasefire came into force on 3 August 2023 and was extended for another 180 days.
The Minister of Defense, Ivan Velasquez
From the Government delegation they were trying to agree on a “technical extension“of the ceasefire, but the guerrillas conditioned the meeting with the Government to agree on an extension to the publication of a presidential decree where the ELN is removed from the list of organized armed groups (GAO).
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In this regard, Velásquez pointed out that the ELN’s request is “a matter that can always be the subject of discussion, analysis, and evaluation“.
“The fact that it is called an organized armed group does not mean that it is unknown, as has been indicated by presidential decree (…) that it is a rebel group and the political nature of the organization“, added the minister, who specified that the Government has not yet “sitting down to discuss the matter“.
THE N.
The guerrillas assure that they have complied with the ceasefire and emphasize that, for “unilateral decision“They have abandoned kidnapping for economic gain,”aborted by the state of freezing that this peace dialogue table entered, due to the non-compliance with agreements by the National Government“.
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In recent days, multiple voices and organizations have asked both parties Commitment to an extension that will bring peace to the territories.
Last month, in an interview with EFE, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieuhe said: “We have seen many benefits from the ceasefire between the ELN and the Government and it would be beneficial if this ceasefire were extended, prolonged and hopefully also expanded because it has room for expansion.“.
The fact that it is called an organized armed group does not mean that it is unknown, as has been indicated by presidential decree (…) that it is a rebel group and the political nature of the organization
For its part, the Humanitarian Coordinatorwhich brings together a hundred social organizations, assured that in the first half of 2024 there were 605 violent events (328 possible violations of the ceasefire and 277 hostile actions), but despite this they asked for “to promote a multilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to safeguard life“.
EFE
