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The peace delegation of Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) confirmed Friday they are ready to release the police and military personnel they have detained, but stated the release hasn’t occurred because the government refuses to allow international third parties to observe the process.
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Colombian President Ivan Duque has demanded the release of hostages to continue the peace talks established by his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, that have been taking place in Havana, Cuba.
On Thursday, during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Duque reiterated the peace talks would be suspended until the ELN “ceases all criminal activities, beginning with the liberation of hostages.”
In response to Duque’s comments, the ELN published an official statement saying it is untrue that they want to “negotiate the liberation of military and police officers,” and highlighted that “within 24 hours of the kidnappings (they) publicly announced their commitment to a prompt liberation. We asked the government for an agreement on the protocols... to safeguard the safety of the detained and all parties involved.”
According to the statement, the only remaining disagreement with the government is the presence of international witnesses. The ELN has recommended Cuba and Norway, two countries that have accompanied the Colombia peace process all along.
“We are not demanding anything in return,” the ELN statement concludes.
Duque’s government set September 7 as a deadline to decide if the government will resume the peace process with the ELN, Colombia’s last official guerrilla group, after the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed the peace accords with the Santos government abandoning arms and becoming a political party.
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