Colombia’s ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, on Tuesday asked the armed groups that have announced a unilateral ceasefire for the Christmas period to extend it and make it definitive as a gesture of goodwill.
Camargo has pointed out that extending this announcement not only means alleviating the situation of danger suffered by the communities in which these groups operate, but also a clear sign that they really want to join the total peace project of the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro.
«We highlight from the Ombudsman’s Office that the illegal armed groups are echoing the invitation that we have been recommending for several weeks now to show gestures of peace that allow the consolidation of a dialogue process,» Camargo has exposed.
On the occasion of the beginning of negotiations between the Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla, other armed groups such as FARC dissidents and even self-defense groups operating in Sierra Nevada and Buenaventura, announced the beginning of a unilateral truce.
In relation to one of these announcements, Camargo has indicated that they will be «vigilant» with the ceasefire announced by the Magdalena Medio block of FARC dissidents «so that they comply with the truce announced» in Norte de Santander, southern Bolivar and northeastern Antioquia.
«We ask the FARC dissidents to cease definitively all actions that have been affecting the communities in these areas of the country and others where they are present,» the Ombudsman’s Office said.
In this sense, the authorities have asked the rest of the armed groups that have shown interest in joining the total peace of Petro’s government to «show their will» and permanently join the ceasefire «in order to start as soon as possible the dialogues» that will allow ending the violence.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
