<p>Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said. An initial six-month ceasefire expired last week and was then extended by five days. Negotiators from both sides, meeting in Havana, indicated that the Bilateral, National, and Temporary Ceasefire (BNTFC) would last 180 days.</p>

<p>The statement, released around midnight, said ELN had decided to "unilaterally and temporarily suspend economic detentions, a commitment that will be followed up by the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism".</p>

<p>Although the ELN suspended kidnapping during negotiations, its leaders asked the government for financial resources to maintain their fighters, an issue they are addressing in the talks.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-faces-september-trial-date-in-us-antitrust-lawsuit-over-digital-ads-report-687470">Google faces September trial date in US antitrust lawsuit over digital ads: Report</a></p>

<p>President Gustavo Petro's government restarted peace talks with the ELN in 2022 as part of a policy of "total peace" to end the South American country's six-decade conflict, in which more than 450,000 people have been killed.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-has-lowest-approval-than-all-recent-sitting-presidents-poll-687466">Biden has lower approval than all recent sitting presidents: Gallup poll</a></p>

<p>So far, Petro's government has held six rounds of peace talks with the ELN, a process supported by Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Chile, which are participating as guarantor countries.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-farmers-say-eus-green-policies-are-unfair-unrealistic-687456">European farmers say EU's green policies are 'unfair', 'unrealistic'</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-farmers-say-eus-green-policies-are-unfair-unrealistic-687456/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Colombia´s president is also negotiating with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest armed group of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.</p>


Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said.

Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said. An initial six-month ceasefire expired last week and was then extended by five days. Negotiators from both sides, meeting in Havana, indicated that the Bilateral, National, and Temporary Ceasefire (BNTFC) would last 180 days. The statement, released around midnight, said ELN had decided to "unilaterally and temporarily suspend economic detentions, a commitment that will be followed up by the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism". Although the ELN suspended kidnapping during negotiations, its leaders asked the government for financial resources to maintain their fighters, an issue they are addressing in the talks. Also Read | Google faces September trial date in US antitrust lawsuit over digital ads: Report President Gustavo Petro's government restarted peace talks with the ELN in 2022 as part of a policy of "total peace" to end the South American country's six-decade conflict, in which more than 450,000 people have been killed. Also Read | Biden has lower approval than all recent sitting presidents: Gallup poll So far, Petro's government has held six rounds of peace talks with the ELN, a process supported by Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Chile, which are participating as guarantor countries. Watch | European farmers say EU's green policies are 'unfair', 'unrealistic' × Colombia´s president is also negotiating with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest armed group of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.

Colombia and ELN rebels extend ceasefire by six months

Days after the Colombian President announced truce with the country's largest armed rebels - National Liberation Army or the ELN - has refused to accept any such agreement. The leftist group in Colombia said that it is not a part of the ceasefire with the government.

ELN contradicts President's truce claim, denies it with Colombian government

Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army - the ELN - resumes formal peace talks in Venezuela for the first time since they were suspended back in 2019. The talks are in efforts by President Gustavo Petro, the first-ever leftist leader.

Colombia begins peace talks with ELN rebels; President Petro promises to bring 'total peace'

<p>Colombia&#39;s Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels began official peace talks with the government on Tuesday in a bid to end their part in a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, damaged the economy and left millions displaced.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="videos-block">
<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INjY8HMBe6M"></iframe></div>
</div>

<div class="media-description">
<p>Colombia&#39;s Marxist&nbsp;ELN&nbsp;rebels began official peace talks with the government on Tuesday in a bid to end a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands, damaged the economy and left millions displaced. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The ELN, the&nbsp;nation&#39;s second-biggest rebel group, hopes to clinch an agreement similar to that negotiated last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which allows the rebels to form a political party in exchange for laying down their arms.</p>

<p>The 2,000-strong ELN&nbsp;considered a terrorist group by the United States and the&nbsp;European Union, has extorted, bombed oil and electricity infrastructure and kidnapped hundreds of people over its 52 years to raise funds for the war and pressure the government.</p>

<p>Negotiations, hosted by Ecuador, were delayed from November pending the release of a politician the group held hostage for nearly 10 months.</p>

<p>&quot;Fortunately today in Colombia we are trying to develop a political solution to the conflict,&quot; said ELN negotiator Pablo Beltran at the launch of talks outside Quito.</p>

<p>While the talks are independent of those conducted with the FARC, the agenda will cover similar issues, like political participation, disarmament and compensation for victims.</p>

<p>The government&#39;s chief negotiator Juan Camilo Restrepo said the two sides will remain &quot;loyal&quot; to the agenda and negotiate as quickly as possible.</p>

<p>&quot;Peace is for all Colombians; it&#39;s peace for the region and a ray of hope for humanity. New generations, the victims of the conflict and the whole world are waiting for us to be wise and big enough to overcome this futile war,&quot; Restrepo said.</p>

<p>The government and the FARC signed a revised peace accord in late 2016 after four years of tricky negotiations and a failed referendum on the original deal.</p>

<p>President Juan Manuel Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the FARC conflict, but has been criticised for making a deal the opposition says is too lenient on the rebels.</p>

<p>The ELN, founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba&#39;s 1959 revolution, has been in on-and-off preliminary talks with the government since 2014.</p>

<p>More than 220,000 people have been killed in Colombia&#39;s conflict.</p>

<p>Peace with the two rebel groups is unlikely to put a complete end to violence in a country also ravaged by drug trafficking, but could allow economic development in once off-limits areas and shift more</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


The ELN deal will be similar to that of FARC and cover issues like political participation, disarmament and compensation for victims

Colombia's Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels began official peace talks with the government on Tuesday in a bid to end their part in a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, damaged the economy and left millions displaced. Colombia's Marxist ELN rebels began official peace talks with the government on Tuesday in a bid to end a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands, damaged the economy and left millions displaced. (WION) × The ELN, the nation's second-biggest rebel group, hopes to clinch an agreement similar to that negotiated last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which allows the rebels to form a political party in exchange for laying down their arms. The 2,000-strong ELN considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, has extorted, bombed oil and electricity infrastructure and kidnapped hundreds of people over its 52 years to raise funds for the war and pressure the government. Negotiations, hosted by Ecuador, were delayed from November pending the release of a politician the group held hostage for nearly 10 months. "Fortunately today in Colombia we are trying to develop a political solution to the conflict," said ELN negotiator Pablo Beltran at the launch of talks outside Quito. While the talks are independent of those conducted with the FARC, the agenda will cover similar issues, like political participation, disarmament and compensation for victims. The government's chief negotiator Juan Camilo Restrepo said the two sides will remain "loyal" to the agenda and negotiate as quickly as possible. "Peace is for all Colombians; it's peace for the region and a ray of hope for humanity. New generations, the victims of the conflict and the whole world are waiting for us to be wise and big enough to overcome this futile war," Restrepo said. The government and the FARC signed a revised peace accord in late 2016 after four years of tricky negotiations and a failed referendum on the original deal. President Juan Manuel Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the FARC conflict, but has been criticised for making a deal the opposition says is too lenient on the rebels. The ELN, founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, has been in on-and-off preliminary talks with the government since 2014. More than 220,000 people have been killed in Colombia's conflict. Peace with the two rebel groups is unlikely to put a complete end to violence in a country also ravaged by drug trafficking, but could allow economic development in once off-limits areas and shift more (Reuters)

Colombia begins peace talks with Marxist rebels to end 52-year-old conflict

<p>The Colombian army killed one National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel and captured four others just ten days before the government and the insurgent group are scheduled to hold peace talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The public order and financial wings of the ELN&nbsp;in the northeastern department of Casanare were targeted, the army said on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of the four captured rebels, three were commanders, one of whom was wounded, AFP reported. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a separate operation, 24 rebels from the western department of Choco were &quot;demobilised&quot; (taken out of active service), the Colombian defence ministry said in a tweet.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Los 24 desmovilizados del Frente <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ResistenciaCimarron?src=hash">#ResistenciaCimarron</a> del <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eln?src=hash">#Eln</a> en <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pizarro?src=hash">#Pizarro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Choc%C3%B3?src=hash">#Choc&oacute;</a> entregaron su armamento y equipo de intendencia <a href="https://t.co/K0QwDVqIwd">pic.twitter.com/K0QwDVqIwd</a></p>
&mdash; Mindefensa Colombia (@mindefensa) <a href="https://twitter.com/mindefensa/status/788103598064427008">October 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>(Translation: 24 Front demobilised in Choco and surrendered their weapons and equipment quartermaster.)</p>

<p>The ELN did not comment on the latest attack, but this could roil the peace talks&nbsp;which will take&nbsp;place on October 27&nbsp;in Ecuador&#39;s capital of Quito.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Carlos Medina, a&nbsp;political analyst at Colombia&#39;s National University, said the latest attack will not endanger the peace deal but stressed on the need to have a ceasefire in order to reduce tensions between the government and the rebels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government has a ceasefire deal with FARC but no such agreement has been signed with the ELN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been trying to end the 52-year old conflict with Colombia&#39;s two largest insurgent groups &mdash;&nbsp;the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts&nbsp;but has since struggled to restore peace in the country, especially after Colombian voters said &#39;no&#39; to the peace deal with FARC as they felt the deal allowed rebels to go scot-free for atrocities they caused.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from AFP)</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The latest attack may jeopardise the prospect of a truce deal between the government and the insurgency group

The Colombian army killed one National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel and captured four others just ten days before the government and the insurgent group are scheduled to hold peace talks. The public order and financial wings of the ELN in the northeastern department of Casanare were targeted, the army said on Monday. Out of the four captured rebels, three were commanders, one of whom was wounded, AFP reported. In a separate operation, 24 rebels from the western department of Choco were "demobilised" (taken out of active service), the Colombian defence ministry said in a tweet. Los 24 desmovilizados del Frente #ResistenciaCimarron del #Eln en #Pizarro #Chocó entregaron su armamento y equipo de intendencia pic.twitter.com/K0QwDVqIwd — Mindefensa Colombia (@mindefensa) October 17, 2016 × (Translation: 24 Front demobilised in Choco and surrendered their weapons and equipment quartermaster.) The ELN did not comment on the latest attack, but this could roil the peace talks which will take place on October 27 in Ecuador's capital of Quito. However, Carlos Medina, a political analyst at Colombia's National University, said the latest attack will not endanger the peace deal but stressed on the need to have a ceasefire in order to reduce tensions between the government and the rebels. The government has a ceasefire deal with FARC but no such agreement has been signed with the ELN. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been trying to end the 52-year old conflict with Colombia's two largest insurgent groups — the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts but has since struggled to restore peace in the country, especially after Colombian voters said 'no' to the peace deal with FARC as they felt the deal allowed rebels to go scot-free for atrocities they caused. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Colombian army kills ELN rebel ten days before peace talks

eln-rebels

Eln Rebels, News on Eln Rebels, stories on Eln Rebels, articles on Eln Rebels, Eln Rebels stories at Wion, Eln Rebels news, Eln Rebels latest news

eln rebels

Colombia and ELN rebels extend ceasefire by six months

ELN contradicts President's truce claim, denies it with Colombian government

Colombia begins peace talks with ELN rebels; President Petro promises to bring 'total peace'

Colombia begins peace talks with Marxist rebels to end 52-year-old conflict

Colombian army kills ELN rebel ten days before peace talks