Colombia rebel group FARC said Saturday it will be “serious,” “sensible” and “pragmatic” when negotiating an end of the country’s 48-year-old armed conflict with the government next month.
In a statement released to commemorate the death of the FARC’s military leader, “Mono Jojoy” two years ago, the FARC said that “what it is about is to be serious, propose sensible things, be pragmatic and only aspire what the oligarchy is willing to concede.”
The country’s oldest guerrilla group criticized the government for not allowing representatives of civil society to take part in the peace talks that begin in Norway on October 8.
“Where their superior and elitist attitude is shown most is in the issue of popular participation in the peace process. Not only do they assume that the insurgency lacks the slightest right to act as spokesperson of the people, but moreover consider that many people sticking their nose in such an important matter can only result in rioting and hinder progress in the debate,” the FARC’s political leadership said.
Representatives of the FARC will travel to the Norwegian capital of Oslo to negotiate peace with representatives of the government, the military and the country’s business association.
The government on Thursday agreed with Congress to reconstruct the National Peace Council, which will consist of state representatives and social organizations, allowing the latter to indirectly take part in a peace process.