Colombia Advances Peace Dialog with Guerilla Groups

Havana, Sept 16 (ACN) Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro authorized the start of peace negotiations with the “Comuneros del Sur” guerrilla group, faction of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a rebel organization which has also been called to peace talks by the government of Petro.

The initiative aims at finding solutions to the country’s armed conflict, achieve effective enforcement of humanitarian law, respect for human rights, ceasefire and the impact on the civil population. Disarmament of the group and its demobilization towards a peace transit are also part of the talks’ agenda.

The “Comuneros del Sur” guerrilla group was part of the ELN, but on May 7 they decided to separate from the bigger organization. Comuneros members and government representatives drew up a roadmap in August to achieve peace in the southeastern Colombian region of Narino.