Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC, have said they are discussing whether to start another ceasefire for the second round of the Presidential elections, in a statement released on Tuesday morning.
The FARC are currently analyzing whether they will begin a second unilateral ceasefire for the second round of the presidential elections on June 15
| “The time has come to end this confrontation. The parties have managed to construct deals which are like the necessary steps to achieve the peace which we consider a right” |
“We are analyzing it. I cannot say if we will do it or not [the ceasefire]. I will only comment that our secretariat is analyzing the possibility,” said Ivan Marquez, leader of the FARC’s peace delegation.
“The time has come to end this confrontation. The parties have managed to construct deals which are like the necessary steps to achieve the peace which we consider a right,” continued Marquez.
The FARC and Colombia’s second largest guerrilla organisation, the ELN, announced a 10 day unilateral ceasefire for the duration of the first round of the presidential elections, which was largely upheld with few transgressions.
MORE: Colombia’s rebel groups honor ceasefire during presidential elections: NGO
The FARC are also willing to accept a division of the negotiating teams at the current peace talks with the government in Havana, Cuba, so as to speed up the process.
President Juan Manuel Santos has recently expressed a desire to speed up the peace talks and one possible method has been the division of the negotiating teams to enable the discussion of multiple points at the same time.
MORE: President Santos opens National Peace Council to speed up peace talks
On Tuesday, the FARC and government negotiating teams restarted the peace talks, with discussion focusing on victims’ rights, the fourth of six points.
MORE: Colombia govt, FARC resume peace talks in Cuba
The FARC negotiation team refused to be drawn on the possible outcome of the second round of the presidential elections being contested between incumbent Santos and his challenger Oscar Ivan Zuluaga on 15 June.
“We will not speak out on hypothetical scenarios,” said Marquez.
Sources
- ENTIRE COUNTRY SHOULD SUPPORT THE PEACE PROCESS (FARC Statement)
