FARC dissidents in Colombia accept cease-fire proposed by government

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Dissidents of the FARC guerrilla group have accepted the start of a recent cease-fire proposed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the group’s leader said Friday.

A group of 20 heavily armed guerrillas dressed in camouflaged uniforms and led by Ivan Mordisco, announced in a video shot from the jungle that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents “reaffirm their commitment to engage in frank dialogues with the national government in its exploratory phase in search of solutions to the social and armed conflict that our country has suffered for decades.

Mordisco, who was believed to be dead, said the guerrillas would “avoid” confrontations with the military “as long as we are not attacked.”

The message was a response to an announcement Thursday by Petro who declared the beginning of a multilateral cease-fire between the state and all organizations willing to engage in dialogue to seek peace.

"In a matter of days a public issue will be raised: the possibility of a multilateral cease-fire that would be the beginning of the end of violence, with all those who adhere to that possibility," Petro told reporters in New York City where world leaders are gathered for UN General Assembly meetings.

The announcements were made in the context of "total peace" proposed by Petro, who seeks to negotiate deals with armed groups that are active in Colombia.

Criticism has poured in from those who say FARC dissidents are criminals without political ideology, who did not want to adhere to a peace treaty signed in 2016.

Mordisco refused to participate in any conversation at the time and gathered 500 dissidents to continue fighting and drug trafficking.

Former Defense Minister Diego Molano announced that Mordisco was killed in a military operation July 9 but his body was never found.