Government and FARC dissidents begin peace talks in Caracas

When will the next cycle of peace talks with the FARC dissidents in Colombia be?

The V Cycle of Peace Dialogues with the FARC dissidents of the Central General Staff (EMC) with the part of this divided group that is still negotiating – will be held in Bogotá between June 20 and 26as reported by the Office of the Commissioner for Peace (OCCP).

This announcement comes after last month the Colombian Government confirmed the division of the EMC into two groupsa more belligerent one commanded by ‘Iván Mordisco’ who is reproducing a wave of violence, especially in Cauca and the south of the country, and another smaller one that is still on the table.

The first group has carried out several attacks on police stations and the civilian population in the department of Cauca and the Government has increased its offensive against them, while negotiations with the second group, which were stalled, now seem to be resumed and the cessation of the fire is still valid with them, according to the Ministry’s announcement.

“There are contrasts on the table with the preservation of the ceasefire, with territorial transformations as a bet, with the construction of a peace agenda, and what is happening in the department of Cauca and in the south of the country with events of escalating violence”The Government’s chief negotiator, Camilo González Posso, noted in a video today.

González also reported that there have been a “horrible massacre” in San José de la Fragua, between the departments of Caquetá and Putumayowhere there has been “a very serious situation with many deaths, a confrontation between a faction of what was Carolina Ramírez and is now called the Raúl Reyes Front with the Border Commandos; many dead combatants.”

“This affects the population, this is not a simple situation between irregular forces that kill each other, it generates panic in the population; it is a dispute over the territory that ultimately affects the communities,” added the chief negotiator.

The attacks of this dissidence have intensified in that region of the country after last March the Government suspended the bilateral ceasefire in the departments of Nariño, Valle del Cauca and Cauca due to the violence of that armed group against indigenous people and against the public force.

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In response, The Army has increased its offensive operations in recent months in Caucawhich has become one of the stumbling blocks in the peace negotiations between the Government and the EMC.

However, at the table, according to the Government, they have continued to hold meetings with organizations and community action boards and there will also be “a territorial dialogue in Meta and Antioquia”, in addition to this new cycle of dialogues. Because “peace despite these challenges is a task that cannot be postponed,” said the chief negotiator.

Created By: EFE Agency.