The head of the guerrilla of the Central General Staff (EMC), alias ‘Iván Mordisco’, published today a video in which he reaffirms his intention to respect the ceasefire scheduled to begin on October 8 and warned against “warlike speeches “, a day after having questioned the truce.
“Since September 22, we announced the suspension of offensive actions to stop the war and reduce the effects on the civilian population as much as possible, until today the warlike speeches continue to prevail (…) we maintain the suspension of offensive actions, unfortunately the siege puts the gesture of peace at risk,” said the guerrilla leader in reference to an Army offensive in the department of Cauca.
The ceasefire agreed between the Government and the guerrilla organizations has to begin on October 8, the date on which the start of peace negotiations is also scheduled.
Yesterday, the EMC, one of the FARC splinter groups that did not sign the peace agreement in 2016, warned about the “inability to stop the war” and dissolved the contingency group that had agreed with the Government, although without commenting on if they would respect the ceasefire.
But today, he reaffirmed his intention to maintain the agreements.
“It is time for us to stop the war. The installation of the ceasefire table and decree is just around the corner after a year of many setbacks and many efforts by the delegations and the international community. Let us not allow everything to go in the trash,” said alias ‘Iván Mordisco’ in his video, which was picked up by the Europa Press news agency.
“We call on him (Colombian President Gustavo Petro) to make decisions and stop the war,” he stated.
This declaration of maintaining a cessation of offensive actions “is very positive,” detailed the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP) in a statement.
Hours before, Petro had written a message on X (exTwitter) in which he stressed that the most important thing was to begin a de-escalation of hostilities. “This means: cease actions against the civilian population.”
Likewise, the Government ratified that on October 8, the dialogue table will be installed in Tibú, a municipality in the Catatumbo region, in the department of Norte de Santander, bordering Venezuela, and a 10-month bilateral ceasefire will be decreed. .
Source: Ambito
