Peace Process Between the Government of Colombia and ELN on the Verge of Collapse

Colombian President Gustavo Petro Sept 2024 Photo: EFE

September 19, 2024 Hour: 5:11 pm

The Government’s chief negotiator, Vera Grabe, said that they will continue to persist in peace as a cry from the territories.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the National Liberation Army (ELN) on Thursday to abandon acts of violence if it really intends to continue with the peace process.

Through the social network X, Petro wrote that if the ELN does not want to break the peace process say so. Do not be silent, that peace is to shout it and violence to bury it».

In this way, the Colombian head of state responded to the words of the ELN leader, Antonio García.

A peace process is broken if young people’s lives are broken and poor families suffer.

If the ELN does not want to break the peace process, say so. Don’t be silent, that peace is for shouting and violence is for burying.

El Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) ha cuestionado al gobierno colombiano 🇨🇴 por no cumplir con los compromisos adquiridos en las negociaciones de paz iniciadas bajo la presidencia de @petrogustavo https://t.co/0dGrrxssq7
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) September 3, 2024

The National Liberation Army (ELN) has questioned the Colombian government for not fulfilling the commitments acquired in the peace negotiations initiated under the presidency of @petrogustavo

Amid the growing tensions between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), new statements are emerging that call into question the future of the peace process. The ELN commander, Antonio García, published a statement on his Telegram channel about the current situation.

According to García, despite the recent military operations against the ELN by the police and the military forces, the guerrilla organization does not consider the peace process to be broken. However, they point to President Gustavo Petro as the culprit of any potential break-up:

«The ELN has been subjected to military operations against it by the police and the FFMM, but we have never said that the peace process is broken. Who breaks is the President @petrogustavo with his statements», he stressed.

The top ELN leader said that the peace process between the government and the guerrillas is currently frozen, due to alleged breaches of agreements by the government of Gustavo Petro.

Further stresses that this situation has led to a stalemate in the negotiations and increased mistrust between the parties.

A crucial point in the deterioration of relations was the non-extension of the ceasefire. In this context, and in search of solutions, the Minister of Defence and the Commander of the Military Forces ordered the resumption of offensive operations against the ELN.

Despite the resumption of military operations, sources suggest that it is still possible to continue the peace process: «Even in the midst of military operations peace processes can continue, that have done at various times different governments, now can not be the exception».

Last August, the ELN issued a statement in which it stated that if it was in the interest of the government to continue the peace process, also taking into account the political nature of the ELN and its status as an armed rebel organization, should be removed from the GCO list.