Colombia, No. 2 rebel group unveil peace process

Colombia, No. 2 rebel group unveil peace process
11:40 pm, June 11, 2014
The Associated Press

BOGOTA (AP)—Colombia’s government and its No. 2 rebel group announced Tuesday that they have been holding exploratory peace talks, fueling hopes that the Andean nation’s two long-enduring guerrilla conflicts could soon end.

The announcement came just five days ahead of presidential elections in which not just President Juan Manuel Santos’ political fate but also that of his 18-month-old negotiations with Colombia’s main insurgency hang in the balance.

His opponents called the announcement a political ploy.

A statement published on the presidency’s website said exploratory talks with the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish initials ELN, began in January. It says an agenda for formal talks would include “victims and the participation of society. The other topics remain to be agreed upon.”

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