In a significant step towards lasting peace, the Colombian bishops' conference has embraced the initiation of a six-month ceasefire between the nation's military and the largest remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). To support and monitor this crucial truce, the conference has embarked on training numerous priests and lay workers from diverse regions of the country.
Issuing a statement on August 10, the bishop's conference disclosed that 31 representatives from 18 different dioceses were meticulously briefed on the specifics of the ceasefire and international humanitarian law. Discussions also revolved around effective methods to report any violations of the ceasefire. "We will take this knowledge to our territories," expressed Fr. Jairo Alberto Rave from the Diocese of Barrancabermeja, "so that we can make an important contribution" to the ongoing peace process.
This historic truce, which commenced on August 3, aims to facilitate peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN, a Marxist-oriented rebel group comprising approximately 2,000 to 5,000 fighters. The ELN holds considerable influence in the western regions of Colombia and along the country's eastern border with Venezuela. Remarkably, this ceasefire marks the lengthiest period of non-hostility between Colombia's government and the ELN, constituting a pivotal element of President Gustavo Petro's endeavor to pacify the rural areas that still bear the brunt of violence perpetuated by rebel groups and drug cartels, who were not participants in the 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.
Throughout the peace negotiations, the Catholic Church has played a crucial role, with Bishop Héctor Fabio Henao heading the Colombian bishops' conference's delegation for church-state relations. In an interview with public radio station Señal Colombia, Henao elucidated the church's mission to provide support to communities affected by the long-standing conflict. The church aspires to ensure that grievances and concerns of these communities reach a dedicated verification team, comprising delegates from the ELN, the military, and the United Nations. This team assumes the responsibility of documenting breaches of the ceasefire and presenting them to the negotiators. "We will act as a bridge, so that information can flow correctly," Henao affirmed.
The ceasefire stipulates that both the ELN rebels and the military commit to refraining from attacking each other, and additionally, they pledge to adhere to international humanitarian law, thereby abstaining from attacks on civilians. This commitment carries paramount significance given the ELN's history of kidnapping civilians for ransom and issuing threats against human rights leaders and local politicians who criticize their practices. The ELN has engaged in activities such as recruiting minors, levying taxes on local businesses, sabotaging oil pipelines, and profiting from the cocaine trade.
In the province of Arauca, which borders Venezuela and is renowned for its oil production, human rights leaders expressed optimism regarding the truce. They earnestly hope that this ceasefire will culminate in a comprehensive peace agreement that augments the well-being of the entire region. Older Cáceres, formerly a member of Arauca's legislature and currently associated with the Alliance for Peace and Development, emphasized the need for sustainable development opportunities for the entire population.
While the ELN has not explicitly delineated its demands for disarming, the group has insinuated its desire for alterations in Colombia's electoral system and has expressed a drive to nationalize the country's oil fields. During a recent event commemorating the ceasefire's commencement, the chief negotiator for the rebels, Pablo Beltrán, conveyed his aspiration for the government to prioritize social programs over foreign debt repayment.
Although the ceasefire has garnered support from human rights activists and Catholic Church leaders, it has encountered opposition from segments of Colombian society. In July, a substantial number of people participated in a rally in Bogotá to protest President Petro's security policies, including the ceasefire. The attendees comprised retired police and military personnel, some of whom highlighted historical instances where rebel groups exploited ceasefires to bolster their arsenals and resume conflict when unsatisfied with peace negotiations.
As the ceasefire unfolds, certain regions of Colombia still grapple with violence. Early in August, over 1,000 individuals were compelled to flee their villages in the municipality of Samaniego to escape clashes between the ELN and a faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which did not engage in the 2016 peace agreement. Importantly, the current ceasefire does not bar the ELN from engaging in hostilities against other rebel groups.
Reacting to this incident, the bishops of Nariño province, encompassing Samaniego, issued a statement on August 7, vehemently denouncing the shedding of blood in the region and condemning the abuses afflicting civilians in areas infiltrated by armed groups.
For nearly six decades, Colombia has been ravaged by armed conflict, resulting in the loss of over 450,000 lives. With this newly established ceasefire and the active involvement of priests, lay workers, and the Catholic Church, there is a renewed glimmer of hope for lasting peace.
