The former leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, Rodrigo Londoño, has agreed to talk with the National Liberation Army (ELN) to negotiate a peace agreement with the government of Gustavo Petro.
In a letter addressed to the ELN commander, Antonio García, and disseminated on the social network Twitter, Londoño has expressed his desire to contribute his grain of sand in «the titanic task of achieving the total peace that the Colombian nation longs for».
«Respected Antonio: There are more than a few reasons that motivate this letter. Of course, one of them is that the search for a political and negotiated solution to the armed conflict between the Colombian State and the ELN is a public matter of national interest,» the former FARC leader began his letter.
Londoño recalled that the success of this new attempt to end the armed uprising depends on the welfare of hundreds of communities and the preservation of thousands of human lives, a reason that has led him to help in the development of «the difficulties that arise in a political negotiation».
«The experience we had in the peace talks in Havana, which led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian State and the extinct FARC-EP, showed us that the enemies of peace are strong and powerful. However, none of them is part of the current government, and on the contrary, they are stalking any attempt at a negotiated solution to the conflict that persists in the country», said Londoño.
In this sense, he praised the current Colombian government, «democratically elected by millions of Colombians who dream of a just and peaceful country», for its deep commitment to achieve «a silencing of the guns of all armed actors».
«It is clear that by electing him, the majorities of Colombia gave a resounding no to violence and war, they voted to put an end to the use of weapons in politics», argued the former guerrilla fighter.
Londoño stressed the importance of acting for the benefit of the country’s majorities and of dealing quickly, with greatness and generosity with unnecessary tensions between the two sides of the negotiating table.
«I am confident that the internal deliberations within the ELN militancy as a whole will nourish with proposals aimed at promptly reaching a peace agreement with the Colombian State. For such effects I make available the experience of the extinct FARC-FP, convinced that in the respectful exchange always flourish new elements for the negotiated solution to the persistent violence», he added.
«In this way, I will be ready to talk with you, Antonio, if you so wish, in the place and conditions that the Government of President Petro and the authorities allow it. My desire is to contribute a grain of sand in the titanic task of achieving the total peace that the Colombian nation longs for,» he added, sharing his conviction that peace in the country must «begin once and for all».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
