Colombian authorities announced Tuesday that the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group has ended the armed strike it had imposed for several days in several municipalities in Chocó and Valle del Cauca (west), a day after the group announced a unilateral nationwide Christmas ceasefire.
Colombia’s Interior Minister, Alfonso Prada, has welcomed the fact that the guerrillas have «finally» listened to the demands to put an end to the armed strike that since December 15 had been imposed in the localities around the San Juan and Calima rivers.
«It is another gesture of peace that we recognize from the ELN and we expect the same from those who aspire to peace dialogue», Prada highlighted in his Twitter profile, social network in which the president, Gustavo Petro, has also confirmed the news and the implementation of the authorities to support the civilian population that was affected.
Last week the ‘Omar Gómez’ front of the ELN announced an armed strike in this area of the country coinciding with the end of the first round of the dialogue that the guerrilla held with the Government in Caracas, Venezuela. The decision now to put an end to it comes a day after the general leadership of the group announced a unilateral cessation of hostilities for the duration of Christmas.
However, the guerrillas have clarified that the truce could be interrupted if their fighters consider that their lives are endangered by the actions of the forces of law and order. Thus, it will be in force from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 24 until the morning of January 2, in order to build «an atmosphere of peace».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
