Indigenous agree to FARC talks if public

Colombia’s National Indigenous Organization ONIC Tuesday said to be willing
to talk to the FARC anytime, as long as the talks are public.

The FARC earlier apologized for the massacre of eight members of the indigenous Awá community. The rebels killed the indigenous because of suspicions of collaborations with the Government. The rebels invited the indigenous to talk.

In an interview with Caracol Radio, ONIC president Evelis Luis Andrade said the ONIC is willing to talk if the dialogues are public and under international supervision and if they lead to an end to FARC attacks on indigenous peoples.

“The will is there and we are able, but there is a quantity of things that need to be addressed and solved. Remember there is no government authorization and anyone who only talks is already an ally of terrorism. That’s why we want the talks to be public,” Andrade said.

The indigenous leader stressed that the outcome could never be that the indigenous join the FARC in the armed conflict.

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