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Colombian general released after Farc capture resigns Colombian general released after Farc capture resigns
(35 minutes later)
The Colombian general whose kidnapping by leftist Farc rebels triggered the most serious crisis yet in ongoing peace talks has resigned, as delegates for the government and guerrillas meet in Cuba to try to restart negotiations that aim to end 50 years of fighting.The Colombian general whose kidnapping by leftist Farc rebels triggered the most serious crisis yet in ongoing peace talks has resigned, as delegates for the government and guerrillas meet in Cuba to try to restart negotiations that aim to end 50 years of fighting.
General Rubén Darío Alzate announced his resignation late on Monday, a day after his release by the Farc’s 34th Front, which held him and two others for 14 days. The general admitted to having breached safety protocols when he travelled in civilian clothes and without his security detail to the village of Las Mercedes in a remote jungle region of the country, where he and his travel companions were abducted.General Rubén Darío Alzate announced his resignation late on Monday, a day after his release by the Farc’s 34th Front, which held him and two others for 14 days. The general admitted to having breached safety protocols when he travelled in civilian clothes and without his security detail to the village of Las Mercedes in a remote jungle region of the country, where he and his travel companions were abducted.
“Out of love and respect for our military, which has been affected by this incident, I’ve asked the national government to retire me from active service,” he told reporters after medical tests at the military hospital in Bogota. He said that he dressed as a civilian because many residents of the area under his command mistrust authorities and fear that being seen speaking to a soldier could make them a target of the rebels. “Out of love and respect for our military, which has been affected by this incident, I’ve asked the national government to retire me from active service,” he told reporters after medical tests at the military hospital in Bogotá. He said that he dressed as a civilian because many residents of the area under his command mistrust authorities and fear that being seen speaking to a soldier could make them a target of the rebels.
The abduction of the general – the highest ranking officer ever captured by guerrillas – prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend two‐year‐old peace talks with the Farc in Havana. On Tuesday negotiators for both sides met once again to determine how to move forward after the break in talks. The abduction of the general – the highest-ranking officer ever captured by guerrillas – prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend two‐year‐old peace talks with the Farc in Havana. On Tuesday negotiators for both sides met once again to determine how to move forward after the break in talks.
“What we’re discussing is how to complete the process,” Santos said in a radio interview Tuesday. “What we’re discussing is how to complete the process,” Santos said in a radio interview on Tuesday.
The setback in the process has actually had some unexpected effects in Colombia, said Christian Voelkel, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. “When things looked like the process could end, Colombians got worried,” he said “That shows that there is a general acceptance of the peace process.” The setback in the process has actually had some unexpected effects in Colombia, said Christian Voelkel, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. “When things looked like the process could end, Colombians got worried,” he said. “That shows that there is a general acceptance of the peace process.”
The fact that the crisis was resolved relatively quickly also points to an effective control by senior Farc commanders over their troops on the ground, which had been in doubt.The fact that the crisis was resolved relatively quickly also points to an effective control by senior Farc commanders over their troops on the ground, which had been in doubt.
But the Farc has indicated that after the break, it would try to squeeze concessions out of the government in order to continue talks. “We need to reformulate the rules that dictate how the process is conducted because the government broke them and damaged the bridge of confidence that we had built,” the Farc said in a statement from Havana.But the Farc has indicated that after the break, it would try to squeeze concessions out of the government in order to continue talks. “We need to reformulate the rules that dictate how the process is conducted because the government broke them and damaged the bridge of confidence that we had built,” the Farc said in a statement from Havana.
The ground rules of the negotiations stipulated that because the talks have been held without a cease in hostilities, whatever acts of war were committed in Colombia would not affect the peace talks. The Farc have been seeking a bilateral ceasefire since the talks began and have used the recent crisis to step up calls for an end to hostilities.The ground rules of the negotiations stipulated that because the talks have been held without a cease in hostilities, whatever acts of war were committed in Colombia would not affect the peace talks. The Farc have been seeking a bilateral ceasefire since the talks began and have used the recent crisis to step up calls for an end to hostilities.
But for Santos, a bilateral truce is not an option. Hard lessons learned from previous, failed peace talks have shown that bilateral ceasefires have served only to strengthen the guerrillas, allowing them to rearm and regroup without the military breathing down their necks.But for Santos, a bilateral truce is not an option. Hard lessons learned from previous, failed peace talks have shown that bilateral ceasefires have served only to strengthen the guerrillas, allowing them to rearm and regroup without the military breathing down their necks.
Keeping up the military pressure on the rebels while peace talks continue “is the most effective way to end this absurd war,” Santos said. Keeping up the military pressure on the rebels while peace talks continue “is the most effective way to end this absurd war”, Santos said.