Colombia’s largest left-wing guerrilla group FARC on Wednesday urged the country’s congress to cease passing bills related to points being discussed in peace talks, report local media.
The FARC did so in a letter to Agriculture Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo in response to bills concerning agricultural policy being reviewed in congress.
Agricultural reform is a hot topic around the negotiation table between the FARC and the right-wing government and is the first topic both sides wish to reach an agreement over.
Newspaper El Espectador reported that the guerrilla group claimed that the move by the government to proceed with proposed legislation is ‘’inexplicable (…) without hearing the views emanating from the peace table in Havana, and play deaf to the aspirations of social and political organizations in the country.”
The FARC also said they want Restrepo to travel to Cuba — where the peace talks are held — to certify whether or not the government will consider an agreement made as a result of the peace talks, as opposed to decisions made solely by the government.
Speaking from Bogota, the agriculture minister labeled the demand ‘’inadmissible’’ and reiterated that he defiantly will not make the trip.
The FARC went on to note that “without hearing the voice of the people, you cannot build peace.” The group also expressed that the government’s refusal to outlaw foreign ownership of Colombian land, something they call ‘’legal plundering,’’ is ‘’painful.’’
Nevertheless, talks to end the almost-50 year armed conflict continue.
