Small Wars Journal

Wavering of ELN Peace Talks Could Cause Further Criminalization

Sun, 09/16/2018 - 12:33am

Wavering of ELN Peace Talks Could Cause Further Criminalization by Parker Asmann and Mimi Yagoub - InSight Crime

The increasing fragility of peace talks between the Colombian government and the country’s last remaining guerrilla group could see the rebels double down on their criminal prospects in the Andean nation.

Colombia’s President Iván Duque said September 12 that the release of six hostages kidnapped by the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN) — Colombia’s last remaining guerrilla group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) largely demobilized — is not enough to continue with peace talks.

“If we want to build peace with that organized crime group [the ELN], they themselves must begin with the clearest of wills, which is the suspension of all criminal activities,” Duque said…

Read on.