This agreement was reached “as part of the extension of the ceasefire” between the rebel group and the Colombian government, which currently runs until January 29.
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An announcement “transcendent for peace in Colombia”, according to a government representative. The guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) have agreed with the Colombian State to “to suspend” kidnapping for ransom “as part of the extension of the ceasefire” between the two camps, according to a joint statement from the two camps published Sunday, December 17.
The agreement, concluded at the end of a fifth round of peace talks that began in early December in Mexico, also lays the foundations for a new extension of the ceasefire, established in June and which currently runs until January 29. “An extension until February is viable”said Pablo Beltrán, head of the ELN delegation.
This latest round of negotiations, which aims to end six decades of conflict, began in the midst of the most serious crisis the process has known: the kidnapping by the ELN of the father of footballer Luis Díaz. The kidnapping of Luis Manuel Díaz, released on November 9 after twelve days of captivity, caused a crisis in the dialogue process. The two parties agreed to meet in Cuba from January 24 for a sixth session of talks.
