Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Bogotá, October 17.- The ceasefire between the Government and the Central General Staff, made up of guerrillas from the extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP), not covered by the 2016 Peace Agreement, will govern from today.
This Monday, the parties committed to moving forward in peace talks after officially setting up the talks table in Tibú, north of Santander.
They agreed that the bilateral and temporary national ceasefire, with monitoring and verification, will be in force for three months, from midnight today until the same time on January 15, 2024, with the possibility of extension.
“Consequently, the suspension of offensive military operations and special operations of the National Police against the members of the Central General Staff of the FARC-EP is ordered,” says Decree 1684 signed by President Gustavo Petro.
The High Commissioner for Peace, Danilo Rueda, said that this “is an agreement for respect for the civilian population and the implementation of the bilateral, temporary, national ceasefire with territorial impact between the Government and the EMC-FARC.” .
Among the main objectives of the agreement signed between the parties are respecting life in all its forms, the rights and freedoms of the civil population, the territory and the environment, particularly of the groups with special constitutional protection, including the signatories of the Agreements of Peace.
In addition, avoid harm to the civilian population and its protected property; promote pedagogy and participation of the population, communities and organizations in full freedom and facilitate the operating conditions of the dialogue table.
Also create the conditions for compliance with the agreements, and the free development of the territorial elections on October 29 and respect for their results.
The decree establishes that the Public Force “will not suspend any of the actions it carries out against illegal economies, and will continue to fulfill its legal and constitutional mission” of preserving the integrity of the territory, guaranteeing order and ensuring respect for rights and public freedoms.
A mechanism for oversight, monitoring and verification of the ceasefire is also created and a national dissemination, socialization and pedagogy campaign on the ceasefire will be carried out.
“We cannot send a coherent message of peace to the world if we kill each other,” said Petro, shortly before the installation of the dialogue table.
With this second process, the government advances its objectives of achieving total peace, a policy that cuts across its entire government program.
The dialogue with the National Liberation Army is now close to its fifth cycle with agreements such as the ceasefire and the participation of society. (PL) (Photo: Archive)
