AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Talks resume for peace, despite the incidents and the distrust of the Colombians

Monday, 4 May 2015

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The Colombian magazine "Semana" reported that, after an Army combat against a group of FARC, the authorities have arrested seven guerrillas in camouflage uniforms, aged between 10 and 17, carrying long range weapons. According to the note sent to Fides, Germán Rojas, commander of the 17th Army Brigade informed that these minors are part of a group recruited with force. The FARC, since 2012 have started talks with the Colombian government on the peace process, had announced in February that they would not recruit minors. The guerrilla negotiator Carlos Antonio Lozada, answered back that the FARC have not violated the commitment, because "in no case there was talk of having to release those who had already joined and were under 17 years of age", he said.
Peace talks resumed in Cuba yesterday, Sunday, May 3, with session n. 36 which continues to deal with the issue of the victims of the conflict. The FARC, after the latest incidents in recent weeks (see Fides 16/04/2015 and 18/04/2015), has expressed its intention to reach definitive peace for the good of all of Colombia .
The local press has reported that public confidence in the peace talks, both regarding the government of President Santos and the FARC, has fallen dramatically. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 04/05/2015)


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