Latin American Summary, September 8, 2023.
This cycle culminated in the “Caracas Agreements”, in which delegations agreed on common actions and announced the development of activities within the framework of community participation and the ceasefire.
Last Monday, September 4, the fourth cycle of the peace dialogue between the government and the ELN ended with the declaration of five critical areas.
According to the statement released following these agreements, the delegations will carry out humanitarian activities and dynamics in areas such as Bajo Calima, San Juan, Bajo Cauca, Northeast, Antioqueño and Sur de Bolívar.
The delegations also agreed on the development of mechanisms for the care of ELN political prisoners and on the declaration of detention centers as critical areas.
On the other hand, the delegations reported in a joint statement: “The shaping phase of society’s participation in the peace process continues with the consolidation of the National Participation Committee (CNP).” This will hold meetings on September 9th and 10th and lead 25 national and regional processes , which aim to create the national social participation plan.
The statement also expressed the receipt of the first report of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MMV) of the ceasefire that came into force on August 3, in which delegations call on the various social organizations to carry out oversight tasks.
Monitoring and verification mechanism in Arauca
Likewise, the government and the ELN have activated the MMV of the ceasefire in Arauca, which will have a delegation on site to analyze and seek solutions. On the other hand, the government announced the militarization of some areas of this department.
Fighting between ELN and FARC dissidents broke out this week, killing 16 people in rural areas of municipalities such as Tame and Puerto Rondón.
This happened just as the peace dialogue table between the government and the FARC’s Central General Staff (EMC) was set up in the following days.
In Cauca, on September 2, FARC dissidents carried out harassment in communities such as Corinto and Argelia, leading to the suspension of classes in schools.
Finally, the government and ELN delegations reported in the joint statement that they will travel to some areas in the different regions of the country to carry out educational activities in order to “create a positive climate for the local elections on October 29”. .”
Communiqué No. 18 Caracas Agreement, Government-ELN
#Release No. 18. Caracas Agreement.
Humanitarian actions and dynamics are carried out in Bajo Calima and San Juan, as well as in the Bajo Cauca region. Develop concrete mechanisms to support political prisoners and people deprived of their liberty. #ELNPAZ pic.twitter.com/kZ7bG9EeeZ— ELN Delegation (@DelegacionEln) September 4, 2023
The fifth cycle of peace dialogue between the government and the ELN will take place in November in Mexico.
Source: Colombia Informa