Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Friday specified the Government’s new
conditions to talk peace with the FARC. He wants the rebels to commit
no violent act for three or four months before starting a negotiation
process.
“These bandits should tell the country: ‘Look we will stay back without an act of violence for three or four months’, to have the conditions to start a process of negotiation,” Uribe said in the southern city of Popayán, Cauca.
The President made the remarks after having received a list of the violent acts committed by illegal armed groups in the department. The FARC have a strong presence in Cauca.
“Who in the world is going to sit down to talk with groups that do this? Nobody. Looking for peace doesn’t mean allowing violence,” Uribe added.
Uribe did not say the army would also cease hostilities towards the guerrillas if the rebels cease violence.
The FARC recently dropped their demand for a demilitarized zone to negotiate the release of captured members of the security forces in exchange for imprisoned guerrillas. The Government always rejected this demilitarized zone, claiming it was part of the rebels’ strategy to regroup and increase their grip on the south of the country.
