FARC Threatens To End Its Ceasefire In Colombia

VOA/Reuters: FARC Threatens to End Its Truce in Colombia

HAVANA - Colombia's Marxist-led FARC guerrillas threatened Thursday to end a unilateral truce that has been in place since December unless the government of President Juan Manuel Santos called off military attacks on rebel positions.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia called its truce at Christmastime, and Santos responded March 10 by announcing Colombia's armed forces would halt aerial bombing raids for one month, saying the reprieve could be extended if the FARC continued its cease-fire.

Update #1: FARC call on Colombian leader to save ceasefire -- AFP
Update #2: Colombia's FARC says cease-fire in jeopardy -- EFE
Update #3: FARC Threaten to End Ceasefire in Colombia -- Panam Post

WNU Editor: I am surprised that the truce has lasted this long.

Progress In Talks Between Colombia And FARC Rebels

High-ranking Colombian military officers joined Colombian peace talks for the first time on Thursday, sitting across the table from rebel commanders they had opposed on the battlefield and trying to negotiate a ceasefire. Credit: Reuters/Presidency-Peace Office/Handout via Reuters

VOA: Colombia, FARC Reach Deal on Clearing Land Mines

Colombia and Marxist FARC rebels reached a deal Saturday to clear the country of land mines as part of ongoing peace talks.

Both sides said they would ask a group called Norwegian People's Aid to coordinate the operation.

Humberto de la Calle, a former Colombian vice president and the government's lead negotiator, said Saturday, "Our main objective in these conversations is to put an end to the conflict and avoid future victims in our country. And that's why the demining proposal is a first but giant step toward peace."

More News On This Weeks Colombian Government - FARC Agreement To Clear Landmines

Colombia, FARC rebels agree to remove landmines -- Reuters
FARC rebels agree to help Colombian army clear minefields -- UPI
Colombia landmines: Farc to help army clear minefields -- BBC
Colombia, leftist FARC in 'giant' step toward peace -- AFP
Colombian gov't and guerrillas reach agreement on landmine removal -- EFE
Colombia government and Farc rebels agree to remove landmines -- The Guardian
Colombia and FARC rebels reach deal to clear landmines -- Al Jazeera
Bogota and FARC agree on landmine removal -- Deutsche Welle
Colombia, FARC rebels agree to remove landmines from battlefields -- Sydney Morning Herald

FARC Rebels Agree To Release Kidnapped Colombian Army General

Colombia Kidnap: Farc Agrees Conditions For Release -- BBC

Colombia's Farc rebels have reached an agreement with the government over the conditions necessary for releasing an army general and four others.

Announcing the agreement in Havana, Cuban and Norwegian officials acting as mediators said the hostages would be released as soon as possible.

However, the details of the agreement were not released.

Peace talks between the two sides were suspended after the men were captured by the left-wing rebels at the weekend.

Ruben Dario Alzate is the first Colombian general to be abducted in 50 years of conflict.

The rebels said they seized the men because they were unhappy at the continuation of Colombian military activities during peace talks.

Read more ....

Update #1: Colombia, Rebels Agree on Steps to Free General -- ABC/AP
Update #2: FARC agree to release captured general -- Al Jazeera

My Comment: These talks have been ongoing for almost two years now .... and they are no closer to ending the conflict that has gripped Colombia for decades.

FARC Confirms Capture Of Colombia General. Peace Talks In Danger Of Collapsing

Colombian Leftist Rebels Acknowledge Capture Of Army General -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Colombia's FARC rebels confirmed on Tuesday they are holding a Colombian army General Ruben Dario Alzate and two others, whose capture on Sunday led the government to suspend two-year-old peace talks taking place in Havana.

"The three were captured by our units because it involves enemy military personnel, who were carrying out their duties in a war zone," the statement said.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos suspended the Havana peace talks on Sunday after he said the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) abducted General Ruben Dario Alzate, another military officer and a civilian in the rural department of Choco.

Read more ....

More News On FARC Confirming The Capture Of Colombia General. Peace Talks In Danger Of Collapsing

Colombian Rebels Acknowledge Capture of General -- AP
FARC confirms it is holding kidnapped Colombia general -- AFP
Colombia's FARC confirms they're holding general -- FOX News/EFE
FARC confirms it is holding kidnapped general -- Deutsche Welle
FARC confirms capture of Colombian general -- Al Jazeera
Colombia: Farc Guerrillas Admit to Kidnapping Army General Ruben Dario Alzate -- IBTimes
Colombian president halts rebel peace talks, demands release of abductees -- EFE
Fate of peace talks in FARC hands - Colombian president -- AFP
Colombia’s FARC guerrillas suggest kidnapped general may not see speedy release -- Miami Herald
Colombia’s FARC say hope suspended peace talks can resume -- Euronews/Reuters
Factbox: Colombia's peace process with Marxist FARC rebels -- Reuters

Colombia - FARC Peace Talks Suspended After General Is Kidnapped

Colombian President Halts Farc Talks After General Kidnapped -- The Guardian

Efforts to end 50 years of war in crisis after Ruben Dario Alzate captured along with military official and lawyer.

The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, has suspended peace talks with Marxist Farc rebels following the kidnapping of an army general, throwing into crisis the nation’s efforts to end 50 years of war.

General Ruben Dario Alzate, who heads the Titan task force in the Pacific department of Choco, was captured on Sunday afternoon by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), along with another military official and a civilian.

“Tomorrow negotiators were to travel to another round of talks in Havana,” Santos said early on Monday. “I will tell them not to go and that the talks are suspended until these people are released.”

Read more ....

More News On Colombia - FARC Peace Talks Suspended After General Is Kidnapped

Colombia suspends Farc peace talks over kidnapping -- BBC
Colombia Suspends Peace Talks With Rebels After General’s Capture -- WSJ
Colombia Suspends Peace Talks After FARC Kidnaps Army General -- VOA
Colombian general kidnapped, rebels suspected -- AP
Colombia, FARC Peace Talks Suspended After General Ruben Dario Alzate Kidnapped By Rebels: Officials -- IBTimes
Colombia suspends peace talks with guerrillas after kidnapping -- Miami Herald
Kidnap halts Colombia peace talks -- Independent.ie
FARC peace talks suspended after Colombian general's kidnapping -- Deutsche Welle
Colombia Suspends Peace Talks Over General’s Apparent Kidnapping -- Latin American News Dispatch
Colombia suspends peace talks with FARC after army general is kidnapped by rebel group -- FOX News