Rebels say Colombia govt peace talk terms are ‘unacceptable’

HAVANA: Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas said that conditions set by Ivan Duque, the country’s new president, to restart peace talks in Cuba aimed at ending their insurgency are ‘unacceptable.’

Right-winger Duque gave the Marxist ELN a one-month deadline after his inauguration on Aug 7 to convince him it is serious about laying down arms and reentering civilian life. That cut- off point expired on Friday.

By refusing to recognise agreements reached under Duque’s predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, ‘and unilaterally placing unacceptable conditions, this government is... ending the process of dialogue’ aimed at reaching a peace agreement, ELN negotiators in Havana said in a statement. The statement called for restarting talks ‘with no further delays.’

Duque demanded the release of all ELN hostages – believed to be 16 – as a condition to restart peace talks. With an estimated 1,500 fighters, the ELN is the last recognised armed rebel group operating in Colombia. Authorities believe it is financed through drug trafficking and illegal mining.

Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize for signing the historic accord with the much larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC) rebels in 2016, turning that armed group into a political party after more than 50 years of violent insurrection. — AFP