Colombia president Juan Manuel Santos says Colombia will not falter in its attempt to end the conflict, Colombia’s W Radio reported on Wednesday.“We will not break our will for peace that has been demonstrated by all mayors, our struggle for peace can not and will not fail,” said Santos speaking from the western state of Cauca on Tuesday.
| “What objective are you seeking? What military advantage does it give you? None, it only undermines the confidence of the people in the peace process.” |
Santos directed his comments to the FARC, the country’s largest rebel group with whom the government are currently negotiating a peace deal, and opponents of the peace process he called, “lords of fear.”
“What objective are you [the FARC] seeking? What military advantage does it give you? None, it only undermines the confidence of the people in the peace process,” he said.
The Colombian state and the country’s largest rebel group, the FARC, have been negotiating a peace deal since November 2012 in Havana, Cuba.
They are currently negotiating the third of six points, focusing on the issue of illicit drugs. They have already come to agreements on the points of political participation and land reform.
More: Colombia peace talks move to negotiating drug trafficking, coca cultivation
During the peace talks, no ceasefire has been mediated between the two groups and both sides continue to fight.
Santos also castigated the opponents of the peace process within Colombia who he accused of, “spreading false rumors” and wanting to, “poison” the peace process.
He said that, “it is not the time to return to the past, but to continue to keep moving forward.”
The comments come as President Santos runs for re-election in late May.
