The beginning of peace negotiations between Colombia’s government and largest guerrilla group FARC has been re-set for October 14 in Norway’s capital of Oslo, reported Caracol Radio on Sunday.
Originally planned to begin October 8, the peace talks to end the country’s 48-year-old armed conflict were pushed back because judicial authorities have been delayed in suspending arrest warrants of rebel negotiators.
International activists foresaw that the principal set date of Monday, October 8 would begin demonstrations in Oslo in support of the peace process, and in accordance with this Nobel Peace Prize winners Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Rigoberta Menchu had allegedly already confirmed their assistance. This would go against the Colombian government’s requests to not make a show of the matter, but to maintain negotiations under a low profile.
Along with a few other logistical matters, this led to the installation of tables of dialogue to be the following Sunday, October 14, according to Caracol Radio. However, associates of the process prefer to wait for an official communication from the parties to confirm.
“Because the voices are located in distinct zones, to take them out amid fighting does not seem easy to me. This is perhaps why the initiation has been delayed, I think,” said Carlos Lozano, director of newspaper Semanario Voz, in reference to the detained rebel negotiators.
Other associates such as Senate President Roy Barreras, agree with Lozano that the matter is more logistical rather than political.
“It is a logistical matter, capture orders must be lifted and it is an issue of process. However it is worth noting that we will have the good news of the installation during the first fortnight of October, whatever day it may be,” said Barreras.
