Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Colombia FARC Rebel Leader: Peace Talks Suspension Destroyed Confidence



Colombia Rebel Chief Says Peace Talks Suspension Destroyed Confidence -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos "destroyed" confidence in the peace process by suspending talks and violated the terms of an agreement that brought the rebels to the negotiating table, FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono said.

Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, said in a statement published on Monday that Santos had "overturned the board game" when he halted talks last week and breached terms that allowed the negotiations to start in 2012.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) captured army General Ruben Dario Alzate and two others on Nov. 16, a move that outraged Santos and prompted him to call off talks until the three are released. The group had taken two soldiers captive the previous week.

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My Comment: FARC has warned that they may renege on the release of a top General kidnapped a week ago .... Colombia's Farc warns over General Alzate's release (BBC). As to what is my take on these peace talks .... I am not optimistic. The above video from the Economist explains why.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

FARC was never serious about the negotiations.

In the Past the government of Columbia has been. They pulled out of a large region in the 1990s, which the guerillas promptly made into a base.

If you want to FARC go after their state sponsors in Ecuador and Venezuela. they will survive without state sponsorship but it will be much harder and they will be capable of less mischief.

State sponsorship is important. The American Revolution had the sponsorship of Spain and France. Both countries provided armies and fleets. Spanish Armies range up and down the Mississippi and along the gulf coast. A Spanish fleet protected French holding in the Caribbean releasing the French fleet to fight the British outside Chesapeake Bay. And the good citizens of Havana, Cuba met the Continental Army payroll. When the Castro oligarchs are gone, we should repay Havana with grants (not loans) of aid.