The commander of Colombia’s armed forces, admiral Edgar Cely, said Sunday he regrets the FARC’s rejection to cease violence and begin peace talks.
“I believe they are missing a great opportunity. I am convinced of this,” Cely told press.
In response to President Juan Manuel Santos’ conditions to cease violence before sitting down to discuss lasting peace. The FARC say they are in favor of peace talks, but refuse to cease hostilities before.
According to Cely, “at the moment that they should be reflecting and look at the entire country, they reject (demobilization).”
“This is not the way to achieve anything. This way they are not going to achieve what has been their strategic plan, which is the assuming of power in whatever form,” the armed forces commander added.
Both the FARC and the government accuse the other of not being willing to want peace. The FARC demands a “humanitarian exchange” of captured soldiers and policemen and the government demands the FARC to lay down their weapons before discussing peace.
The FARC has been fighting the Colombian state since they were founded in 1964 and are the continent’s oldest and largest rebel group.
