Colombia’s Inspector General said on Monday that impunity for rebel group FARC after a possible deal with the government would be a “slap in the face” to the group’s victims, and hinder the possibility of sustainable peace.
During an address to the second Meeting of Mayors for Children, Adolescents, and Youth on Monday, Inspector General Ordoñez said that “those responsible for crimes such as child recruitment and the recent murder of two police officers can not expect to go free.”
Ordoñez, a staunch conservative, has been one of few government officials to criticize the ongoing peace talks that seek a negotiated end to 50 years of armed conflict.
According to newspaper El Espectador, Ordoñez maintained his position that while some sacrifices will have to be made during the peace process, the Colombian government must protect the fundamental legal and constitutional rights of victims.
MORE: What Do FARC Victims Think Of Colombia’s Peace Talks?
Furthermore, the IG rejected the term “enemies of peace” used by both the president and rebels when referring to opponents and critics of the talks.
“We are not going to permit the creation of dualism in society between friends and enemies of peace,” said Ordoñez.
The peace talks with the FARC, Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, entered a formal stage in November 2012.
The Havana peace talks have since gained growing criticism from Colombia’s political conservatives, including the Democratic Center’s (Centro Democratico – CD) candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga and Marta Lucia Ramirez, while Santos and Green Party candidate Enrique Peñalosa remain staunch supporters of the negotiations.
MORE: Peñalosa Supports Continuing FARC Peace Talks