BOGOTA (Reuters) - The commander of Colombia's Marxist ELN rebels on
Friday ordered his fighters to begin a ceasefire this weekend as the group
struggles through complicated peace talks with the government aimed at ending
five decades of war.
Nicolas Rodriguez, known by his war alias Gabino, told the National
Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas to begin their part in a bilateral ceasefire
agreement with President Juan Manuel Santos' government starting on Sunday and
running through mid-January.
The ELN is in talks in Ecuador to end its part in a conflict involving
government troops, leftist rebels, criminal gangs and right-wing paramilitary
groups. Since negotiations began in February, the ELN has continued to take
hostages for ransom and stepped up bomb attacks in recent weeks on oil
companies.
"It wasn't easy to reach this agreement but finally we achieved
it. Since talks began with Santos's government we have insisted on the urgency
of this ceasefire because it stops offensive actions and brings important
humanitarian relief to the Colombian population," Rodriguez said in a
video message.
During the ceasefire, agreed on Sept. 4, the insurgent group has
pledged to suspend hostage taking, attacks on roads and oil installations, the
use of landmines and the recruitment of minors. In turn, the government agreed
to improve protection for community leaders and conditions for about 450 jailed
rebels.
"Colombians, we must never stop seeking peace. I hope this
temporary ceasefire ... can be extended and become the first step to peace with
the ELN," Santos said in a national address on Friday.
The centre-right president signed a peace deal with the larger
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in late 2016 after negotiations in Cuba
that lasted four years.
Founded by radical Roman Catholic priests in 1964, the ELN has sought
peace with the government before but made little progress. This would be the
first ceasefire with the ELN.
The ELN is considered a terrorist group by the United States and
European Union.
(Reporting by Helen Murphy; Editing by Alistair
Bell and Tom Brown)
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