Colombia seeks peace with FARC rebels

The Columbian government will pursue formal peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country’s largest guerrilla group, President Juan Manuel Santos announced. The FARC, which calls itself “the people’s army” defending peasant rights, has battled about a dozen administrations since appearing in 1964. “We have had exploratory conversations with the FARC to seek an end to the conflict,” President Santos said in a televised speech, adding that they are also considering holding peace talks with a National Liberation Army, known as the ELN, a second rebel group. These efforts started months ago, when Santos met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez who was asked to begin a mediation process. As part of the deal to hold talks, the government has agreed that leaders of FARC would not be extradited to other countries to stand trial. Details of the accord are still being worked out, but the negotiations could take place in Cuba or in Norway, Al Jazeera reported. Santos said that the military would not be giving up any territory to the FARC once negotiations began.

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