ELN guerrillas on Tuesday denied having made an agreement with Colombia’s government to uphold a bilateral ceasefire while negotiating peace.
President Gustavo Petro said on Saturday that the security forces and five illegal armed groups, including the ELN, would uphold a six-month ceasefire.
On their website, the guerrillas on Tuesday said that “the ELN hasn’t discussed any proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” however.
Consequently, “there exists no agreement on this matter,” according to the ELN.
In December, the guerrillas said they would uphold a ceasefire during the holidays.
This unilateral ceasefire came to an end on Monday.
According to the ELN, the guerrillas would only comply with formal agreements made with the government as part of ongoing peace talks.
On several occasions we have pointed out that the ELN only complies with what is discussed and agreed upon at the Dialogue Table in which we participate. A unilateral decree of the Government cannot be accepted as an agreement.
ELN
These peace talks are set to resume in Mexico on January 20.
“We interpret the government’s decree as a proposal that will be studied in the next cycle” of talks, said the guerrillas.
The ELN’s statement is a major embarrassment for Petro and Interior Minister Alfonso Prada, who said on Monday that the illegal armed groups would join a commission to monitor the ceasefire.
Illegal armed groups to join Colombia’s ceasefire verification commission: govt
In a response, the government said the president summoned Prada, Peace Commissioner Danilo Rueda and Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez “to evaluate and take actions” that may include “the resumption of actions and military operations against the ELN.”
Rueda has allegedly been talking with more than 20 illegal armed groups after they expressed interest in Petro’s “Total Peace” plan.
Apart from the ELN, the president announced a bilateral ceasefire with paramilitary organization AGC, two groups formed by dissidents of the now-defunct guerrilla group FARC and organized crime group “Los Pachenca.”
