Gustavo Petro Moved a multi-effects piece across the Latin American board When he asked his Venezuelan colleague Nicholas Maduro act as guarantor of complex negotiations that must be conducted Havana Colombian State and the National Liberation Army (ELN)Gueverist-based guerrilla operating since the mid-1960s. The invitation, as expected, made a strong impression in the two participating countries.
“Once again! Venezuela accepts the guarantor role with the ELN. we will do our best In the name of God Almighty Father. I bear the voice of all the people of the six million Colombians living in Venezuela… We will do all our effort, all our work,” stressed the president with open arms, a few days after receiving Armando Benedetti, Colombian Ambassador to Caracas. Maduro said he was acting in line with his predecessor’s actions. “Like Commander (Hugo) Chavez did securing the fruitless peace agreements between then-President Álvaro Uribe and the FARC.
In his letter to Maduro, Petro also asks for “your permission and cooperation in the peace process we are restarting”.. It reminded me of this”active participation“With Venezuela and five other countries as guarantors, a framework agreement was signed in Caracas in 2016 to initiate peace talks with the ELN, which eventually came to fruition.
According to Radio Bogota Caracol, several ELN members who were in Havana went to Caracas after Maduro said “yes”.
historical twist
On August 20, Petro signed a decree temporarily suspending arrest and extradition orders against ELN leaders remaining in Cuba. The island will once again fulfill its role as host and guarantor of the talks, as it did when a new negotiation attempt was made with the FARC in 2014. At the same time, Spain’s role must be defined, as reported at the last meeting between Pedro Sanchez and Peter.
Since coming to the presidency, Petro has set out to bring his proposal to life.full peace” In Colombia. An agreement with the ELN is essential to fulfilling an ambitious roadmap that should include others. armed groups far right and even the main drug trafficking faction, the Clan del Golfo. The case of the Guevarista revolt is of particular interest to Venezuela because of its presence in neighboring areas. Guerrillas frequently enter and leave the neighboring country with the knowledge of Venezuelan military authorities.
Petro’s move against Maduro caused predictable mixed reactions. Some of the Venezuelan and Colombian opposition forces do not take kindly to the Nariño Palace’s recognition of the Venezuelan president as a legitimate international actor. They think Maduro has won much more in this game than his Colombian counterpart. “It is a paradox that the mediator is someone who cannot sit down with the opposition.“, said the human rights activist Liga Bolivar
According to political scientist Ronal Rodríguez, the quest for a peace deal with the ELN runs relentlessly through Venezuela, not only as a guarantor country but also as a party to the negotiation. “Disbanding the Colombian ELN and achieving peace will not work if the Venezuelan component is not brought to the table,” Portala said. empty chair.
Researcher Angélica Rodríguez guesses that Petro’s call is not surprising. On the one hand, it is trying to restart part of the negotiation path that was interrupted in 2016. But in addition to that, she claims the Colombian government has confirmed that without Maduro’s involvement it would be difficult to move forward in negotiations. “It’s no secret that the ELN is a binational guerrilla‘, described analyst Charles Larratt-Smith.