Nearly 100 Colombian guerrillas have laid down their weapons as part of the peace process
Kyiv • UNN
About 100 members of the National Coordination Committee of the Bolivarian Army group surrendered their weapons on the border with Ecuador. They will undergo reintegration into civilian life under the policy of President Gustavo Petro.
About 100 members of the Colombian guerrilla group the National Coordination Committee of the Bolivarian Army surrendered their weapons as part of peace negotiations with the government of President Gustavo Petro. The disarmament ceremony took place in the department of Putumayo on the border with Ecuador, reports Associated Press, writes UNN.
Details
Members of the group, which is a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), handed over their weapons to the authorities and are to undergo a process of gradual reintegration into civilian life. For this purpose, they will be placed in a special temporary relocation zone under the supervision of state bodies.
The group's leader, Giovanni Andrés Rojas, who is currently in custody on drug trafficking charges, stated during the ceremony: "We have laid down the iron rifle because we understand that words are a more powerful weapon." According to him, his arrest last year undermined trust among the fighters but did not stop the negotiation process.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro is promoting a policy of "total peace," which involves negotiations with various illegal armed groups. At the same time, many such initiatives have not yet yielded the expected results. According to analysts, there are currently about 27,000 members of illegal armed groups operating in Colombia.