The Marxist rebel group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) have finished what they have called very positive peace talks in Havana and proposed the creation of a new pact with the Colombian government.

Noting that Aug. 30 is the date established as the international day for the victims of enforced disappearance due to the years of ongoing conflict between the guerrilla group and the state, FARC hopes to now join forces with Colombia and try to find people who have been forcibly “disappeared” over the years.

Praising the latest round of talks for the progress that has been made in terms of moving towards a final ceasefire, the group insisted that they should now focus on searching for the missing victims of the conflict.

A FARC press release explains their position, saying, “Although the numbers of cases of enforced disappearance are dissimilar, all speak of tens of thousands of victims, and all sources agree on the fact that there have been more forced disappearances in Colombia than the sum of the disappeared by the dictatorships of Chile and Argentina since the decade of the 70.”

“We should insist on ending the forced disappearances in particular and worry about the fate of missing persons,” the release reads.

“We believe that the (negotiating parties) should agree on commitments for de-escalation that includes the search for missing persons, considering that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever -- hether a state of war or threat of war, political instability or any other public emergency -- hould be used as a justification for not taking measures to prevent further victimization," said FARC rebel commander Ivan Marquez, as reported by TeleSUR.

The armed conflict between Colombia and FARC has resulted in 50,000 cases of forced disappearances.

The next round of negotiations between government and the rebel group will begin on Sept. 11 in Havana.