The gesture is a first step for them to seek agreements with the government on disarmament and their legal status. The guerrillas broke away from the FARC group which laid down arms in 2016 after half a century of war with the government. 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 Petro’s “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. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Colombia peace negotiations, 100 rebels hand over arms, disarmament, legal status, FARC 2016, Gustavo Petro total peace, Ivan Cepeda, Abelardo de la Espriella, runoff election August 7