Colombia Halts Peace Talks with ELN After Attack
The Colombian government has made the tough decision to halt peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) following a deadly attack on a military base. This incident resulted in the tragic loss of two soldiers’ lives and left over two dozen individuals injured.
Attack Blamed on ELN
The attack, which has been attributed to the ELN, took place in a rural area of Colombia’s Arauca province near the border with Venezuela. The perpetrators used explosives in a truck to carry out the assault.
Petro’s Peace Policy Faces Setback
This suspension of peace talks deals a significant blow to President Gustavo Petro’s key policy of achieving “total peace” in Colombia. Petro’s vision has been focused on removing the ELN from the country’s longstanding internal armed conflict.
President Petro expressed his dismay at the attack, stating, “This is an attack that practically closes a peace process, with blood.”
As of now, there has been no official response from the ELN regarding the incident.
Escalation of Attacks
Since August, the ELN has escalated its attacks on military targets after choosing not to renew a ceasefire that had been in effect since 2023. In response, Colombia’s military has resumed operations against the rebel group.
The decision to suspend peace talks also signals the potential reissuance of arrest warrants for the ELN’s top commanders, who are believed to be currently located in Venezuela and Cuba.
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