Colombia’s largest guerrilla group FARC is considering a Christmas truce with the government, according to a prominent leftist activist.
“The FARC Secretariat is willing to study and take a decision in that direction,” Carlos Lozano told reporters in Bogota. The leader of the Marcha Patriotica and editor of communist newspaper “La Voz”, asserted he met with FARC’s leader negotiator, “Ivan Marquez,” this week in Cuba.
“Commander Ivan Marquez is willing to discuss a truce and take a decision on the matter,” said Lozano.
Peace activist groups, such as Colombians for Peace and REDEPAZ, have previously lobbied for a ceasefire during the Christmas and New Year holiday season.
Senior representatives from the Colombian government and FARC are currently in the Cuban capital of Havana to try and reach a negotiated end to the civil war that has marred the country since 1964. The two sides are expected to resume talks on November 19.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has consistently said that his government will not sanction a slowdown in military operations, let alone approve a ceasefire.
On the contrary, both FARC and Colombia’s armed forces have continued attacking one another since Santos formally confirmed the peace talks in late August.
