Colombia's fragile peace process took a precarious turn Thursday when Luciano Marin, once a chief proponent of the accord, announced that he and a band of rebel FARC hardliners were rearming for a 'new phase' of the conflict.
Off a dirt road deep in the Colombian mountains, a new town is coming to life where former rebel combatants grow corn, make Hawaiian-style shirts and even sell their own craft beer.Perhaps most glaringly, utility poles installed by the government many months ago still aren't connected to the power grid, leaving them entirely reliant on a gas generator. The lifeless wires hang above their tin roof homes, a stark reminder that they remain disconnected from the world they are trying to join.
"I can't say yes or no," said Gonzalo Beltran, 43, who leads a group of ex-combatants making floral-print shirts in bright colors sold for $10 each."If there is an attack against us, we'd have to pursue an alternative. We can't stay with our arms crossed." The rebels followed up their declaration with a letter Saturday calling on ex-guerrillas now living in 24 demobilization camps around the country to"continue the fight from wherever they are and in whatever way their situation allows."At the camp, named after a Colombian independence ideologue, former guerrillas said they respected the position taken by the ex-leaders, even while vowing to continue the peace process themselves.
After the accord was signed in 2016, a little over 300 rebels were transported to the rural demobilization zone here in one of Colombia's coffee-growing regions to begin new lives as civilians. Colombia's government says most of the nearly 13,200 former FARC combatants are firmly on the path toward reintegration. It says a recent poll of over 10,000 ex-rebels said 77% percent are optimistic about their future.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Colombia's fight against rebels would be easier without Maduro: ministerThere is 'no doubt' it would be easier to combat Colombia's rebel...
Leer más »
Amid Colombia rebel rearmament, U.S. sees support from Maduro: officialThe government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is increasingly providing ...
Leer más »
Demi Sims slams 'fake' Megan Barton-Hanson after their romance hits rocksThe TOWIE star has hit out at her ex-girlfriend, claiming she left her 'heartbroken' after calling things off days after the E4 show finished filming
Leer más »
Inside the Culkin Family's Uneasy Relationship With FameThe Culkin kids didn't want to be famous, but they found themselves under the Hollywood spotlight whether or not they liked it.
Leer más »
At least 50 killed in Saudi-led raid on Houthi prison in YemenRebel spokesman Mohamed Abdul-Salam said on Twitter that 100 people were injured in the attack, which targeted a detention centre in the city of Dhamar.
Leer más »