Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba forms Latin Americans for Peace in Colombia, a regional group which aims to promote a negotiated solution to the country’s armed conflict.
Colombians for Peace, an organization led by Cordoba, held a meeting in the Argentine capital city of Buenos Aires Sunday.
The meeting, held at the Argentine Communist Party headquarters, was attended by representatives from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, the Central American Parliament, the collective Europeans for Peace in Colombia, the Argentine Communist Party, and the Argentine foreign minister. It was chaired by Cordoba and Catholic church representative Danilo Rueda.
The attendees agreed to form a group to mediate between guerrillas and the Colombian government. The collective hopes to set out a road map for peace, to end the Andean nation’s 50-year civil conflict.
Latin Americans for Peace in Colombia was formed despite the Colombian government’s statement that it will not authorize any intermediary to mediate with the FARC.
The FARC recently requested talks with regional body UNASUR, but were rejected. Colombia insists that the guerrilla organization negotiates directly with the government.
Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzon said that the government will only consider negotiations if the FARC frees all hostages without conditions, and ceases kidnapping, planting land mines, and the recruitment of children.
In the past, Cordoba has been involved in negotiations for the release of FARC-held hostages and campaigned in Europe to win support for a prisoner swap of FARC captives for incarcerated guerrillas.
The Colombians for Peace leader was forced to cut her European tour short and return to Colombia to face accusations of “FARC-politics.” Colombian Supreme Court President Jaime Arrubla later said that the charges lack conclusive evidence.
Cordoba has denied the accusations, saying that she is being prosecuted for a “crime of opinion,” and that the charges are “persecution,” and “come from the presidency.”