Columbia: FARC dissatisfied

In a recent communication issued by the General Command on 9th January, FARC made a four-point statement on the way the peace talks are being handled.

First, it is pointed out that the negotiations were held in a spirit of co-operation, although no agreement was reached on the non-violation of the Demilitarised Zone (breached by government forces even during the cease-fire), the area of which was unilaterally altered by president Pestrana on 7th October, 2001.

The second point raised was that the Colombian Government’s High Commissioner for Peace, Camilo Gomez, “lied to the country and to the international community”, when he spoke about the agreements made on the Demilitarised Zone, claiming that FARC had requested a time limit of 48 hours before the Armed Forces entered the Zone, which is not true.

The High Commissioner for Peace was criticised for “throwing more fuel on the fire at a time when the country needs humility, prudence and greatness of mind”.

Finally, FARC states that it adopts a position of waiting to see what President Pestrana decides to do next. The ball is very much in the government’s court after FARC has constantly requested dialogue to solve the country’s serious social and political problems.

Because FARC is a left-wing group, it has been branded a terrorist organisation by the USA which arms and supports the Colombian Armed Forces, while American mercenaries fight with the Fascist paramilitary group, AUN, which has carried out horrifying acts of torture, rape and murder on innocent civilians.

Juan BLANCO