ELN boss aka Antonio García was optimistic about talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Photos: screenshot and colprensa.
After this High Commissioner for Peace, Danilo Rueda, announced that the government of President Gustavo Petro it is being considered to suspend the arrest warrants against the members of the ELN guerrillas to restore the peace talks, the supreme leader of this criminal structure reacted.
Is about Eliecer Erlinto Chamorro, pseudonym Antonio Garcia, who told the CM& news program that his criminal structure was ready to talk to the national government and assured that those who ended the talks were members of former President Iván Duque’s government. In fact, for the commander of this guerrilla “the most important thing” is to start talks
“The one who broke it was Duque’s government, now the new government and the Colombian state must be safe from this break”, Garcia broke the news. That yes, showed no signs of wanting to stop some of the criminal acts being committed across the country.
Taken from Twitter. The guerrilla assures that peace talks will resume.
Even when they asked him if they would agree to a ceasefire, and if the Colombian state would do the same, the guerrilla leader said they would evaluate anything he felt was “positive.” However, he made it clear that he would only consider it if they had discussions with the Petro government envoys.
“It will be at the table where it is made. These are not issues that should be discussed publicly,” said the ELN boss.
Likewise, García thanked the Catholic Church in Colombia, as well as the Pope Francis-led Vatican, for their willingness to support peace talks in recent years, which the subversive leader said have been marred by the former Uribista president’s zero management. In fact, Antonio García assures that the previous government was “denied for peace”.
The ELN, the last recognized guerrilla group in Colombia, on Monday announced a 10-day ceasefire ahead of the May 29 presidential election, in which voting intent is dominated by an opponent and former rebel in favor of dialogue with the armed rebels. .
After Chilean President Gabriel Boric offered his country to his Colombian counterpart to advance peace deals with the ELN, there has been considerable speculation about the international community’s role in these new talks. CM& asked García what he expected of the Venezuelan regime and other nations interested in Colombia being free of guerrillas. This was said by the chief of this guerrilla:
“There is an agreement signed by the ELN, the Colombian government and five governments that defines the role of these countries; that still applies; only Ecuador renounced his role. Venezuela will continue to fulfill the agreed role, just like the others. Venezuela has played an important role that cannot be ignored,” Antonio García told the news program.
Despite the criticism the new head of state has received for opening up dialogue with subversive groups, this provision seems to be bearing fruit. As the crime boss told the above media, they hope to reach an agreement with the Petro government. Of course, in his opinion, everything will depend on the “new context” in which the talks are held. “That’s the advantage we’re all negotiating, including Uribe. This great negotiation of the country will be the new context in which the dialogues and agreements with the ELN will take place”, he added.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro speaks after a bilateral meeting with Chile’s President Gabriel Boric (not in photo) at the Casa de Narino in Bogota, Colombia August 8, 2022. Portal/Luisa Gonzalez
In addition, the guerrilla leader referred to the peace agreement that former President Juan Manuel Santos signed with the former FARC guerrillas, saying that these dialogues with the ELN must be taken into account “Mistakes” of these negotiations so as not to repeat them. He even dared to describe the main problems he saw, such as the assassination of social leaders and the implementation by Iván Duque’s government.
According to García, the mistakes have to do with that “the negotiation structure in your negotiation strategy; there was also no clarity in the goals”, he told CM&, recommending for his part to consider “what is being negotiated and for what”. In fact, he believes that this should not be done in haste but in moderation, which is why he contradicted Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva’s announcement that he would enter into dialogue once and for all with all criminal groups.
“A government can talk to whomever it wants; everyone takes their own. But if the government puts us in the same sack as the gangs or paramilitary groups, we won’t get involved there, one is one thing and the other is another,” said García, who is currently in Cuba.
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