Author: Angelika Albaladejo
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Colombia is close to signing a historic peace agreement with the FARC that will help put an end to more than five decades of conflict. But, in order for peace in Colombia to be true and lasting, the other armed actors in the country must also lay down their weapons.
Two months ago, the Colombian government and the country’s second largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army or the ELN, agreed to begin formal peace talks.
In a post-accord Colombia, there will be many potential spoilers for peace, including increasingly concerning paramilitary activity and escalating threats and attacks against human rights defenders.
In this climate, peace talks with the last remaining guerrilla group will be essential to securing peace in Colombia and could help avoid increased violence as the peace accords with the FARC are implemented.
Representatives Sam Farr, James P. McGovern, and Ruben Gallego are currently circulating a dear colleague letter addressed to Bernard “Bernie” Aronson, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Colombia Peace Process, expressing strong support for the newly announced peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN, as well as urging the State Department to provide support for this peace process as it has throughout the talks with the FARC.
Your representatives only have until Monday, May 23rd to sign on. Will you help us flood your representative’s office with requests to sign this important letter? Click here to call or email now.
The letter also urges for the inclusion of victims and civil society in the ELN peace talks, for an end to the recruitment of minors and the use of landmines by the ELN, for the Colombian government to address paramilitary-style groups and attacks against community leaders and human rights defenders, for all sides of the conflict to negotiate a multi-lateral ceasefire, and for the U.S. government to support the ELN peace talks and the implementation of peace accords in Colombia.
Through your continued advocacy, we are now closer than ever to ending more than 50 years of war. But, we need you to keep the pressure on and continue urging the U.S. government to support peace in Colombia. Click here to contact your representative!
Update
Thanks in large part to your advocacy, the House dear colleague letter addressed to Bernard “Bernie” Aronson, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Colombia Peace Process closed with 51 signatures and was sent to the State Department and the Colombian Embassy on June 7, 2016. Read the final letter with signatures.
