The order from the leadership of the insurgent group is one of the key steps for compliance with the ceasefire that is expected to come into effect on August 3.
The cessation of offensive actions between the parties was agreed on June 9 in Havana within the framework of the peace process between the illegal armed group and the Colombian government, which was reactivated in August of last year and which was frozen for three and a half years. .
As announced on Tuesday, from July 6 to August 3, the ELN “must cease all offensive military actions against the military and police forces” of Colombia.
On August 3, the six months of cessation of the armed actions of both parties would begin to count, which would be verified by international organizations such as the United Nations and could be extended.
The order issued on Tuesday is part of the “enlistment” phase in which educational actions will be carried out among the guerrillas and the monitoring protocols that remain for the full entry into force of the ceasefire will be signed.
The Colombian High Commissioner for Peace, Danilo Rueda, described the ELN order as progress in the peace process and stated that “this is where the unity of command that the National Liberation Army may have will be approved.”
Rueda added in statements to the official RTVC radio station that President Petro will make a similar call to the military forces in the coming days.
Although the announcement was celebrated by sectors related to the government, there is skepticism especially among experts who affirm that the ELN also maintains confrontations with other illegal groups in some regions of the country.
The day before, the guerrilla delegation in the peace negotiations assured that there are groups that would be carrying out actions that could torpedo the ceasefire. Specifically, he referred to the department of Chocó, in the Colombian Pacific, where paramilitary groups are carrying out actions against the civilian population, such as forced displacement and the murder of residents and social leaders.
Since its resumption of the peace process between the Colombian government and the ELN, there have been five dialogue tables in Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba.
The ELN was founded in 1964 inspired by the Cuban revolution and tried unsuccessfully to reach a peace agreement with the State on half a dozen occasions. It currently operates in more than 200 municipalities in Colombia and could have between 2,000 and 4,000 members, according to the authorities, who have also accused it of being related to drug trafficking.
FUENTE: Associated Press
