Colombia's largest rebel group today called off a unilateral cease-fire in reaction to a military raid on a guerrilla camp that killed 26 of its fighters, further straining negotiations to end a half-century-old conflict.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said in a statement that it hadn't wanted to lift the truce, which was aimed at facilitating the peace talks, but that the constant military pursuit of the rebels made it necessary.
The attack on the guerrilla camp yesterday in Cauca province, which President Juan Manuel Santos called a major blow against the FARC, appears to have been in retaliation for the rebels' own stealth raid last month on an army patrol. Ten soldiers were killed in that attack, which led Santos to lift a ban on launching air raids against guerrilla camps.
Santos said that the military seized an important stockpile of weapons during the latest raid. He said the rebels belong to the FARC's 29th Front, the same unit that in November raided a police post on Gorgona Island, a destination frequented by European adventure tourists.
While showing no remorse for the attack, Santos called on the FARC to accelerate peace talks taking place the last two years in Cuba to prevent further bloodshed. For its part the FARC said it's imperative that a bilateral cease fire be declared as soon as possible to provide oxygen to negotiations.
"Against our wishes we have to continue with the dialogue amid confrontation," the FARC said.
