The Colombian government’s lead negotiator in peace talks with rebel group FARC on Thursday decried the “verbal civil war” initiated by vehement opponents of the peace process.
“Sometimes it seems as if what is unfolding here, on our [Colombia’s] side [of the peace talks], is a new war, a kind of verbal civil war, which is completely inappropriate,” said Humberto De la Calle, the Colombian government’s lead negotiator.
While De la Calle stated said that it was perfectly reasonable for people to express their opposition with the negotiations, he criticized the divisive rhetoric used by those most vehemently opposed to peace talks.
“There are Colombians who do not want a dialogue with the FARC, and to us that seems absolutely reasonable; there are Colombians who face a dilemma between peace and justice. They do not want impunity, they want varying degrees of severity and this is also right,” said the negotiator. “In a democracy we have to be able to resolve the differences that exist on our side of the table.”
De la Calle stressed the importance of a united Colombia for the future of the country and called upon Colombians to prevent any further conflicts.
“What our children and grandchildren would not be able to forgive is for us to reach an agreement with the FARC, and then have our side of society destroying the possibility of peace in Colombia. I want to make a call to common sense and sanity,” continued the lead negotiator.
The peace talks were scheduled to resume in Havana on April, 17, however they have been postponed until Monday, April, 23.
MORE: Govt, FARC peace talks delayed amid rumours of rebel tensions
Sources
- De la Calle pide ‘sensatez’ y ‘cordura’ en ‘este lado de la mesa’ (El Tiempo)
- Gobierno pidió unidad frente al diálogo con las Farc (W Radio)
