Internal divisions in Colombian armed group EMC fracturing peace talks, rebels, gov't say

Record ID: 1820294

  • Title: Internal divisions in Colombian armed group EMC fracturing peace talks, rebels, gov't say
  • Date: 16th April 2024
  • Summary: LLANOS DEL YARI, COLOMBIA (APRIL 12, 2024) (REUTERS) FARC-EP MEMBERS AT CHECKPOINT INSPECTING PEOPLE’S DOCUMENTS JACKET WITH COLOMBIAN FLAG AND FARC-EP LOGO PATCH ON THE BACK FARC-EP MEMBER TALKING TO TRUCK DRIVER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SECOND IN COMMAND OF THE EMC, ALEXANDER DIAZ MENDOZA (ALSO KNOWN AS ‘CALARCA CORDOBA’) SAYING: “It's a lie to say there is not a crisis. There has been a crisis since the ceasefire broke down in the territories where there was a ceasefire. Other things as well. We’ve made agreements with the governments and they haven’t been complied with in many areas. That’s where the crisis started.” VARIOUS OF FARC-EP MEMBERS LETTING VEHICLES THROUGH CHECKPOINT VEST WORN BY FARC-EP MEMBER CHECKPOINT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SECOND IN COMMAND OF THE EMC, ALEXANDER DIAZ MENDOZA (ALSO KNOWN AS ‘CALARCA CORDOBA’) SAYING: "Internally within FARC we had some disagreements, which has meant that those of us who were at the talks representing the guerrilla continue at the negotiating table and other comrades, for many reasons – even the state is to blame, even though the fight has always been against the state’s bad management - are waiting. I jump ahead and say if they’ll be there or not, such as Cauca, Arauca and Bloque Sur.”
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2024 14:06
  • Keywords: Colombia FARC Guaviare Peace Rebels South America Talks
  • Location: LLANOS DEL YARÍ, UNIDENTIFIED JUNGLE AREA & SAN JOSE DEL GIAVIARE, COLOMBIA
  • City: LLANOS DEL YARÍ, UNIDENTIFIED JUNGLE AREA & SAN JOSE DEL GIAVIARE, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001539215042024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A majority of the units that make up Colombia's Estado Mayor Central (EMC) armed group have abandoned peace negotiations with the government because of internal divisions, a rebel leader and the head government peace negotiator said, a break which could worsen violence and put civilians at risk.
    The talks with the EMC - which was founded by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who reject that group's 2016 peace deal with the government - have been in crisis for weeks, with the government partially suspending a ceasefire because of violence and top rebel leader warning a deal is unlikely during this presidential administration.
    "We aren't all represented at the same negotiating table," EMC second-in-command Alexander Diaz Mendoza, better known by his nom de guerre Calarca Cordoba, told Reuters during a recent interview in the country's south. "It's a lie to say there is not a crisis."
    Just two of the EMC's six units and a small, separate jungle squad have representatives at the talks.
    "Internally we had some disagreements, which has meant that those of us who were at the talks representing the guerrilla continue at the negotiating table and other comrades, for many reasons...are waiting," Calarca Cordoba said.
    He would not detail what has caused the divisions, but said they existed before the suspension of a ceasefire in three provinces last month, after the governments said members of the EMC had attacked civilians, including an Indigenous leader, and security forces.
    Talks with the EMC, which has an estimate 3,500 members, began in October and a ceasefire in some provinces remains in effect until mid-July.
    Violence has risen in Cauca, Narino and Valle del Cauca provinces since the ceasefire there was called off last month, according to authorities.
    President Gustavo Petro has promised peace or surrender deals to end the country's 60-year conflict, which has killed 450,000 people, but he is also facing trouble at talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels.
    The government remains committed to negotiation, even if it has to meet individually with dissenting units.
    (Production: Camilo Cohecha, Herbert Villarraga, Nina Lopez, Jaime Acosta)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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