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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Colombia to temporarily halt bombing of Farc rebels | Colombia to temporarily halt bombing of Farc rebels |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Colombia is to halt bombing raids against left-wing Farc rebels for a month, President Juan Manuel Santos says, in a further sign of progress in the country's peace process. | Colombia is to halt bombing raids against left-wing Farc rebels for a month, President Juan Manuel Santos says, in a further sign of progress in the country's peace process. |
| Mr Santos said the move was in recognition of the fact a unilateral ceasefire declared by Farc was holding. | Mr Santos said the move was in recognition of the fact a unilateral ceasefire declared by Farc was holding. |
| But operations against another guerrilla group - the National Liberation Army (ELN) - will continue. | But operations against another guerrilla group - the National Liberation Army (ELN) - will continue. |
| Colombia's government and the Farc are holding peace talks in Cuba. | Colombia's government and the Farc are holding peace talks in Cuba. |
| "In regards to the indefinite, unilateral ceasefire declared by the Farc on December 18, we must recognise that they have fulfilled it," Mr Santos said in a televised address. | "In regards to the indefinite, unilateral ceasefire declared by the Farc on December 18, we must recognise that they have fulfilled it," Mr Santos said in a televised address. |
| "In order to start the de-escalation of the conflict, I have decided to order the minister of defence and armed forces commanders to stop bombing raids on Farc camps for a month," he added. | "In order to start the de-escalation of the conflict, I have decided to order the minister of defence and armed forces commanders to stop bombing raids on Farc camps for a month," he added. |
| Breathing space? | Breathing space? |
| President Santos was critical of the smaller Colombian rebel movement, the ELN, saying the group had "increased its criminal activities". | President Santos was critical of the smaller Colombian rebel movement, the ELN, saying the group had "increased its criminal activities". |
| His conservative opponents say halting the bombing will give the rebels valuable breathing space. Aerial raids have been a key component in the government's military campaign. | His conservative opponents say halting the bombing will give the rebels valuable breathing space. Aerial raids have been a key component in the government's military campaign. |
| Key bombing raids | |
| March 2008: Raid on Farc camp inside Ecuador kills Raul Reyes, member of the Farc secretariat | |
| September 2010: Farc military commander Mono Jojoy dies in a bombing raid in Meta province | |
| November 2010: Farc leader Alfonso Cano is killed in a bombing raid in south-western Cauca province | |
| January 2014: Senior Farc rebel known as Romana survives a bombing raid in Meta province in which three of his bodyguards are killed | |
| Farc negotiators have been engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government since November 2012. | Farc negotiators have been engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government since November 2012. |
| They have reached partial agreements on a number of issues, including on the drugs trade, land reform and political participation, although they have yet to reach a final deal. | They have reached partial agreements on a number of issues, including on the drugs trade, land reform and political participation, although they have yet to reach a final deal. |
| A peace commission composed of Colombian businesspeople and politicians is to be formed to help guide the process through its final stages, Mr Santos said in his speech. | A peace commission composed of Colombian businesspeople and politicians is to be formed to help guide the process through its final stages, Mr Santos said in his speech. |
| Stumbling blocks | Stumbling blocks |
| Farc, the largest of Colombia's rebel groups, was founded in 1964 with the aim of installing a Marxist regime. | Farc, the largest of Colombia's rebel groups, was founded in 1964 with the aim of installing a Marxist regime. |
| In the 1990s the group was forced to change tactics because of attacks from right-wing militias and became increasingly involved in the cocaine trade to raise money. | In the 1990s the group was forced to change tactics because of attacks from right-wing militias and became increasingly involved in the cocaine trade to raise money. |
| It has seen numbers drop from 16,000 to 8,000 in recent years, but rebels still control rural areas particularly in the south and the east. | It has seen numbers drop from 16,000 to 8,000 in recent years, but rebels still control rural areas particularly in the south and the east. |
| Farc is listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and Europe. | Farc is listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and Europe. |
| At the weekend, the two sides announced plans to work together to clear unexploded landmines. | At the weekend, the two sides announced plans to work together to clear unexploded landmines. |
| More than 220,000 people are estimated to have died in five decades of conflict. | More than 220,000 people are estimated to have died in five decades of conflict. |
| The breakthroughs | The breakthroughs |
| November 2012 - Formal peace talks begin in the Cuban capital Havana between the Colombian government and the Farc | November 2012 - Formal peace talks begin in the Cuban capital Havana between the Colombian government and the Farc |
| May 2013 - A deal is reached on land reform, one of the most contentious issues. It calls for fair access to land, and rural development, two key causes of the conflict | May 2013 - A deal is reached on land reform, one of the most contentious issues. It calls for fair access to land, and rural development, two key causes of the conflict |
| November 2013 - The two sides agree on the political participation of the Farc should a peace deal be reached | November 2013 - The two sides agree on the political participation of the Farc should a peace deal be reached |
| May 2014 - Both parties pledge to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia | May 2014 - Both parties pledge to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia |
| December 2014 - The Farc declares a unilateral ceasefire | December 2014 - The Farc declares a unilateral ceasefire |
| March 2015 - Both sides agree to work together to remove landmines. Colombia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world | March 2015 - Both sides agree to work together to remove landmines. Colombia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world |
| What is at stake in Colombia's peace process? | What is at stake in Colombia's peace process? |