BOGOTA, April 6 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Members of the Defend Peace movement asked the National Liberation Army (ELN) to decree a unilateral ceasefire to help channel dialogue with the Colombian government.
They did so through a letter signed by several former peace process negotiators with the former guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and other personalities who served as facilitators of dialogue at different stages with the ELN.
Among them were former Vice President Humberto de la Calle, former High Commissioner for Peace Frank Pearl, former Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo, former Constituent Alvaro Leyva, former Labor Minister Clara Lopez and Senator Ivan Cepeda of the Alternative Democratic Pole.
The letter was also signed by Rodrigo Londoño (Timochenko), president of the Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Commonwealth party, and other former FARC-EP guerrilla fighters.
On behalf of the Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Cali, Dario de Jesus Monsalve, accompanied the peace talks with the ELN.
We call on them to announce a unilateral ceasefire and hostilities as soon as possible, as they have done on other occasions, the message states.
The letter adds that there have been several events that have meant the retreat in the intention to put a definitive end to the armed confrontation, which include the ‘regrettable acts of violence in the capital of the Republic’, as well as the decision of the Government to cease the conversations that have been held for years with the ELN.
The members of the Defend Peace initiative stress that dialogue is the most effective way to solve the country’s conflicts and guarantee the establishment of a stable and definitive peace in Colombia. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
