Colombian Peace Talks Slow as FARC Steps Up Violent Attacks
Colombia's peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have reached one of its lowest points as the rebel group continues to carry out violent attacks.
The government's negotiator, Humberto De la Calle, says Colombia would walk away from peace talks if rebels continue to disrupt the process, Reuters reports.
"The peace process is at its worst moment since we began talks... I want to tell the FARC in all seriousness, this could end. Someday, it's probable that they won't find us around the table in Havana," he said.
Since late 2012, the Colombian government and FARC began peace talks hosted in Cuba. Their aim is to end a five-decade war that has claimed the lives and safety of too many people.
Negotiations seemed promising when both groups reached most of the goals on the agenda, but the process has begun to dwindle.
FARC has agreed to release any minors in the rebel group who are under the age of 15 as part of negotiations, according to ColombiaPeace.org.
Negotiators started to take steps in ending the conflict by working on issues such as rural development, political participation for the opposition, reforms to drug policy, and a truth commission.
Meanwhile, the leftist rebel group recently set off bomb attacks on oil pipelines that caused such a disaster that it could take up to 20 years to clean it up. Back in April, FARC killed 11 soldiers in an ambush after promising to clear landmines in certain areas.
Peace talks started to decrease when both sides could not agree on a bilateral ceasefire. The Colombian government said it would agree on a ceasefire if FARC allows some of its members to serve jail time for the group's worst crimes and to exit the drug trade. The rebels flatly rejected the idea.
"The harsh truth is that Colombians don't believe in the peace process," De la Calle said.
FARC has agreed to "de-escalate" conflict since an all-out war is no longer a realistic option.
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