Alfonso Prada demanded “not to demonize” the bilateral ceasefire with illegal groups

The Minister of the Interior, Alfonso Prada, also defended the designation of young people detained in protests as spokesmen for peace. File (REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez)

On the morning of Wednesday, January 25, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa questioned the bilateral ceasefire that the national government maintains with different illegal armed groups. From the United States, the head of the fiscal control entity said that it was like agreeing to a pause in hostilities “with Pablo Escobar or with the Cali Cartel.”

The Ministry of Defense warned the FARC dissidents: either they comply with the ceasefire or the Government will suspend it

Iván Velásquez, at a security council in Cali, recalled that the bilateral cessation does not mean the suspension of activities by the Public Force

After this sharp criticism, the national government defended the measure that currently complies with five illegal structures. Alfonso Prada, Minister of the Interior, issued another strong statement in which he defended the provisions of Law 2272, through which it is determined that Total Peace is a State policy and the social service for peace is created, among other things. provisions.

He even made a call not to demonize these approaches that are part of the Total Peace proposed in the first instance by President Gustavo Petro. “To the extent that we demonize it, the only thing we generate is that criminal structures remain open and with this generate more violence in Colombia, as has been generated up to now,” Prada emphasized.

Former policeman who had been kidnapped by Farc dissidents in Cauca released

The Dagoberto Ramos structure was responsible for the crime that occurred in the north of Cauca

In this sense, he maintained that it is precisely the bilateral ceasefire that prevents the further escalation of violence against leaders, social leaders and human rights defenders, as well as the constant territorial disputes for the control of drug trafficking and illicit crops.

“Where do you think the deaths of the leaders and social leaders come from, where do you think the combats between illegal organizations over drug trafficking runners come from? For this reason, we are going to go to the bottom to have the possibility of dismantling the organizations that today are generating a bloodbath for Colombians”, announced the head of the Interior portfolio.

Alfonso Prada assured that he had the submission law ready to present it to Congress

From Washington, the Minister of the Interior also announced that Congress will be summoned to extraordinary sessions on February 6

It is worth mentioning that, currently, the Petro Government has a bilateral cessation in force with four illegal structures: the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia —Clan del Golfo—; the Central General Staff of the Farc, the Conqueror Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada —Los Pachenca— and the Second Marquetalia commanded by alias Iván Márquez. However, this measure has not stopped these structures from facing each other; In fact, in recent days there have been heavy fighting between the ELN and the Clan del Golfo in areas such as Arauca.

On the other hand, Alfonso Prada affirmed in his speech that the Executive continues to defend the designation of young people detained in protests -including members of the front line- as spokespersons for peace.

On this, the government spokesman specified that “the president requests the suspension of the measures around them so that they can be linked to the peace spokesperson programs and the judges of the Republic make the last decision.” By the way, he said that various types of interpretations have been generated, but that in the face of such a scenario, the legal team that is part of the Inter-Administrative Committee and the Interior portfolio itself “we are reviewing to see if there is a need to clarify so that these measures are more judicially efficient.

It is worth mentioning that prosecutor Barbosa also questioned the regulations created to stipulate the cessation of hostilities with these four illegal groups. “These decrees have to be reviewed from the point of view of what they imply for the country’s operation. The second article of these decrees states that police and military operations are to cease,” said prosecutor Barbosa, who also questioned the operations against illicit crops in the Petro government.

He also spoke about the extradition orders that are being processed against various criminals who are still in Colombia.

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