Gustavo Petro says negotiations have begun after the suspension of arrest warrants in opposition to 19 rebels.
(JOAQUÍN SARMIENTO / AFP)
Colombia’s lawyer normal has suspended arrest warrants in opposition to 19 members of a bunch of former rebels who reject a 2016 peace deal, a step towards new negotiations promised by President Gustavo Petro.
The Estado Mayor Central armed group was based by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who didn’t be part of that group’s demobilisation and conversion to a authorized political get together.
Petro has vowed to finish Colombia’s 60-year battle – which has killed at the least 450,000 folks – by inking peace or give up offers with remaining rebels and crime gangs and by totally implementing the FARC accord.
“The lawyer normal of the nation, after weighing the arguments introduced by President Petro, and in accordance together with his authorized and constitutional duties, has determined to droop current and future arrest warrants in opposition to 19 folks,” the lawyer normal’s workplace stated in an announcement on Monday.
Not one of the 19 have extradition warrants, the prosecutor’s workplace stated.
The suspension will enable discussions to happen between the rebels and authorities officers, Petro stated on Twitter – a primary step to starting formal talks.
“A second peace course of is starting,” Petro tweeted, including discussions can be established between the federal government and the group.
The federal government is already in peace talks with the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) rebels and the 2 sides have stated they’re progressing towards a bilateral ceasefire deal.
The nation’s prime peace official advised Reuters information company final month the federal government expects talks with the Estado Mayor and Segunda Marquetalia, one other FARC insurgent group, inside weeks.
The federal government is holding a ceasefire with the insurgent teams and a few crime gangs, although Petro stated on Thursday that the Clan del Golfo prison group had damaged its deal.
The lawyer normal stated in January he wouldn’t drop extradition warrants for drug-trafficking bosses, with whom Petro desires to agree give up offers.
President @petrogustavo stated Monday that “a peace course of begins” with #Colombia‘s largest group of dissident former FARC guerrillas.https://t.co/MKRCVqZZ5D
— Colombia Studies (@colombiareports) March 14, 2023
Supply: TRTWorld and companies