Good News in Colombia?

Boy, I always mention good news from Colombia with my breath held, but this is potentially significant:

Colombia's second largest rebel army proposed a bilateral cease-fire, amnesty for political prisoners and other measures it said on Friday could allow for future peace talks with the government.

Speaking in Congress under heavy guard, the spokesman of the National Liberation Army, or ELN, also appeared to accept Mexico's offer to monitor negotiations aimed at ending the 5,000-member group's participation in a 40-year war.

"We understand that there have been so many years of pain and anguish because of this conflict, and that the chance of dialogue can raise hopes," said senior ELN guerrilla, Francisco Galan, who was freed from prison for the day to discuss possible peace talks.

"I ask for calm but call for fervor so that we can, with a single voice, join the search together for a political solution to the conflict that we Colombians are all living," he said.

"We've taken the first step."

It's a major step to be sure. I'm assuming that while they are asking for amnesty for political prisoners, they are not asking for amnesty for whatever crimes may have been committed. If this is the case, then that distinguishes their effort from that of the AUC which, while asking for complete amnesty and impunity are busy stealing land.

I remain cautiously optimistic and I think it's also encouraging that Mexico is mediating the talks as it's important for other countries in the Americas other than the US to be involved in this.

[Cross-posted at Southern Exposure]

Comments

[Andrés Rodas]

We hope... it is a very long conflict and Colombia and Latin America need peace in order to get a best future. Maybe there is a new time for our country, maybe a good oportunity in our history... but it is true as well that we all need the hands of the entire continent for get to leave from this terrible nightmare. Thank you for your friendship. I placed your comment and your site in A Colombian Guide Group in yahoo.

Carlos