Colombian Military’s increased Activity threatens Ceasefire: FARC-EP

nsnbc : The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – Peoples’ Army (FARC-EP) warned that the Colombian military’s increased activity against the guerrilla threatens FARC-EP’s unilateral ceasefire. Recently, the Colombian government and the FARC-EP agreed that a bilateral ceasefire should come into effect from December 16, 2015, or January 1, 2016.

Photo courtesy of FARC-EP

Photo courtesy of FARC-EP

In late October the peace delegations of the Colombian government and the FARC-EP agreed on a bilateral ceasefire, to come into effect from January 1, 2016. The date was challenged by FARC delegate Rodrigo Granda who used his Twitter account, stating:

“Christmas without fear. When you want to do something, do it in the best moment. The Christmas bonuses will begin December 16. Why wait for Jan. 1?

President Juan Manuel Santos responded positively and immediately but expressed awareness about the fact that people in FARC-EP controlled areas would become vulnerable to attacks from ultra-right militia when FARC-EP units concentrate and ultimately lay down their weapons. Santos, for his part, Tweeted:

“Why not December 16? We’re ready to go. However, it is important to have all of the points ready, negotiated, examined before the ceasefire can really occur. Because for example, if (FARC-EP) don’t concentrate then we can’t administrate the ceasefire with effectiveness because there are other elements of violence or groups.”

The volatile relations have since soured and caused the FARC-EP to warn that its three-months-old unilateral ceasefire may be at risk because of a rise in military actions against its fighters. The FARC-EP had declared the unilateral ceasefire as a sign of goodwill to help further the peace talks that have been ongoing in the Cuban capital Havana since 2012.

One of the preconditions for the bilateral ceasefire that shall come into effect on December 16 or January 1 is that FARC-EP guerrilla concentrate so that their disarmament can be controlled. Last week, however, four FARC-EP soldiers were killed during a military operation. The incident caused mistrust among the FARC-EP units that are dispersed in relatively small groups throughout the regions of Colombia that are controlled by the guerrilla.

The current unilateral ceasefire is one of many unilateral cease fires that has been declared by the guerrilla while calling on the government and the military to follow suit to promote the ongoing peace process that aims at ending 51 years of civil war. In April 11 FARC-EP soldiers were killed in the Cauca province, ending a five-month-long unilateral ceasefire.

On Saturday Colombian Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas would excuse the latest military actions against the FARC-EP, saying that the guerrilla had halted its assaults against the military since it began its unilateral ceasefire on July 20, but that the FARC-EP had failed also to stop assaults on the civilian population. Villegas claimed that:

“The FARC have complied in an acceptable manner with the ceasefire, but they have not fulfilled the end of hostilities against the civilian population. … They continue extorting, illegal mining activities, sowing landmines.”

The FARC-EP, for its part, issued a statement, requesting a meeting with the guarantors and observers of the peace talks, which are Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela.

CH/L – nsnbc 02.11.2015

Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2015/11/02/colombian-militarys-increased-activity-threatens-ceasefire-farc-ep/

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