Colombia's Santos Rejects FARC Rebels' Call for Ceasefire
Source: Reuters
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos rejected a proposal on Thursday by leftist FARC rebels for a bilateral ceasefire during talks next month aimed at bringing an end to half a century of war. The call for both sides to put down their weapons while talks are under way in Norway came earlier from leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia at a news conference in Havana.
The proposal and its rejection could complicate the process from the start as Santos is adamant that Colombian military operations would continue across "every centimeter" of the Andean nation.
Even as it prepares for the meetings, the FARC blew up two trucks at a coal mine on Tuesday, and Danilo Garcia, a top rebel commander and right-hand man to FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, was killed in a bombing attack by government troops.
"I have asked that military operations be intensified, that there will be no ceasefire of any kind," Santos said during an address at a military base in Tolemaida, close to the capital. "We won't cede anything at all until we reach the final agreement," he added. "That should be very clear."
Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48936010/ns/world_news-americas/
Why not accept a ceasefire? It's almost like Santos wants to sabotage his own peace initiative before it gets off the ground.
flamingdem
(39,304 posts)They're so close. I think Santos might have been threatened.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)The Colombian state hasn't succeeded in doing that for 46 years.
The FARC is maybe half the strength it was at its peak a decade ago, but it still has about 8,000 guerrillas--and the civilian infrastructure to support them. They're also killing Colombian soldiers at the highest rates ever, although much of that is in defensive operations (read: landmines) against an aggressive military.
If Santos thinks he can force them into a deal where all they get is the right to disarm, he's got another think coming. He has talked about agrarian reform and development, but I doubt he is willing to go very far toward what the FARC wants, which is a socialist Colombia.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)In this case though, refusing to go along with it is to impress others. Could be other leaders, the CIA or even coffee traders on Wall Street.