100 Colombian guerrillas disarm in deal with leftist government

VALLE DEL GUAMUEZ, Colombia: About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons Thursday in a jungle area of southern Colombia under a deal with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has sought peace with armed rebels, AFP journalists witnessed.

Some 99 rebels from the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army surrendered their arms in the southern department of Putumayo, three days before a runoff election that will determine the country’s next president.

It represents the most significant success of Petro’s “total peace” plan, after his failed attempts to reach agreements with the country’s armed groups.

Wearing camouflage, the rebels left their rifles in a giant container bearing the slogan: “I bet on life, I fulfill my commitment to peace.”

The gesture is a first step for them to seek agreements with the government on disarmament and their legal status.

“I’m overjoyed, I can’t contain my happiness knowing we won’t be far away from our families,” a rebel, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

The military transported them by helicopter from remote areas to a region in the Guamuez Valley, where they will be based for the next 10 months. They received hygiene kits and have been housed in solar-powered homes.

The guerrillas broke away from the FARC group which laid down arms in 2016 after half a century of war with the government.

The surrender of weapons is unusual this early in a negotiation. The FARC only surrendered their weapons a year after signing the agreement.

They are the only guerrilla group making progress in peace negotiations with Petro.

“It’s a very strong and powerful message for Colombian society at this time when there’s so much noise about war,” said Armando Novoa, head of the government’s peace delegation for the guerrilla group.

– The fate of ‘total peace’ –

Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine producer, and the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army controls key drug-producing territories along the border with Ecuador.

The government estimates that the group may have between 2,000 and 2,500 members — but it is small compared to the National Liberation Army or other FARC breakaway groups, such as that of Ivan Mordisco, the country’s most wanted rebel.

With Petro’s term set to end soon, the fate of his “total peace” policy hangs in the balance.

Colombians vote on Sunday in a run-off presidential election between Petro ally Senator Ivan Cepeda, who promises to continue the peace initiative, and far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who opposes it.

Petro will hand over power to the victor on August 7.

The leftist president has angered Washington by refusing to extradite guerrilla commanders committed to the peace process.

US President Donald Trump has endorsed De la Espriella who is vowing to use an “iron fist” to confront rebels and drug traffickers if he wins the election.

-AFP