The Colombian government’s lead negotiator for peace talks with the FARC, the country’s largest rebel group, on Wednesday said that kidnapping security forces rules out the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire.
“A kidnapping is a kidnapping,” said de la Calle, referring to the FARC’s capture of two policemen in the southwestern Valle del Cauca department on Sunday.
The former vice president said there was no possibility the government would agree to a bilateral ceasefire with Colombia’s largest insurgency until a final peace accord was reached.
Top FARC negotiator “Ivan Marquez” has on several occasions asked for a bilateral ceasefire, a solicitation that has so far been rejected by government officials.
“Until [a peace accord is reached] the order of President Santos is that the Public Force will continue pursuing the FARC in the entire national territory,” said de la Calle.
