OAS urges Colombia to release people arrested over...
Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord
Colombia’s GDP and GNI
Panama arrests US citizen suspected in Colombia of...
Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot
Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in...
Bogota
Crime and security in Bogota
Colombia recalls ambassador from Guatemala over corruption probe...
Colombia’s FARC dissidents captured 5 soldiers during ceasefire:...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
Nicolás Rodríguez, alias "Gabino"
Nicolás Rodríguez, alias "Gabino" (Still: Youtube)
News

Victims need to be included in Colombia peace process: ELN

by Camilo Mejia Giraldo February 19, 2014

The top commander of the ELN guerrilla group said Tuesday that the victims of Colombia’s armed conflict need to have priority in an eventual peace process between the group and the Colombian government.

Speaking from an undisclosed location on the ELN’s Youtube channel, Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, whose nom de guerre is “Gabino”, said it is fundamental that the victims of the country’s five-decade long armed conflict are addressed before anything else happens in a peace process.

“It’s necessary that the responsibility for the victims of the conflict is clarified, we feel that this is the first part that needs to be clarified in the process,” Gabino stated, adding that after this initial stage then the second and third stages of justice and reparation can occur.

The commander added that it is the victims themselves, after they have been exposed to the “light of the truth” who will determine the roadmap of justice and reparation process “[…] because they are the ones who have lived, and are living, the armed conflict”.

If these steps are taken during the eventual process, it will ensure “the satisfaction of everyone and the construction of authentic peace in our country,” Gabino added.

Rodriguez has repeatedly stressed the disposition of ELN to open peace talks with the government of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, El Espectador newspaper states.

MORE: Peace team is ‘formed and ready,’ waiting for Colombia govt: ELN

This is the first time that Gabino directly addressed the inclusion of victims in the agenda of the peace process, RCN Radio reported.

During the Youtube video the guerrilla commander stated that Democracy does not exist in Colombia and that the country has been continually subjected to state-sponsored terrorism.

The leftist guerrilla group has been linked to drug traffickin, numerous kidnappings, and has taken responsibility for attacks on the infrastructure, recently declaring war on the country’s oil production companies.

MORE: ELN bomb Colombia oil pipeline infrastructure

Since November 2012 the Colombian government has been conducting peace talks with the FARC, the country’s largest guerrilla group, in Cuba.

Sources

  • ELN dice que es fundamental incluir a víctimas en un proceso de paz (RCN Radio)
  • ELN dice que si hay proceso de paz habrá reparación para víctimas (El Espectador)
armed conflictELNFARCGabinoJuan Manuel Santospeace talksvictims

Trending

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in peace talks

  • Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in peace talks

  • Colombia’s FARC dissidents captured 5 soldiers during ceasefire: military

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels push ceasefire talks forward

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion