Santos suspends air strikes against FARC for 1 month

[Judi Lynn]

Santos suspends air strikes against FARC for 1 month
Mar 10, 2015 posted by Adriaan Alsema

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday announced that the military will suspend air strikes on camps of rebel group FARC for one month in response to a unilateral guerrilla ceasefire called in December.

Santos’ administration and the 50-year-old rebel group have been engaged in peace talks since November 2012.

The president’s order to cease all air strikes on rebel targets comes three months after the FARC announced it would indefinitely cease fire in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict while talks are ongoing.

“To encourage the de-escalation of the conflict, I have decided to order the minister of defense and the commanders of the armed forces to cease the bombing of FARC camps for one month,” said Santos.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/santos-suspends-air-strikes-against-farc-for-1-month/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia's president suspends air attacks on FARC camps

Colombia's president suspends air attacks on FARC camps

The Associated Press
03/11/2015 12:05 AM
| Updated: 03/11/2015 12:06 AM

BOGOTA, Colombia —

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has announced that he has ordered the military to suspend air attacks on camps of the country's main rebel movement for one month.

Colombian troops will continue ground patrols.

Santos said during a televised address to his nation Tuesday that his order reflects the progress that is being made in negotiations begun in late 2012 with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Those talks to end Colombia's half-century-old conflict are being held in Havana.

On Saturday, the two sides announced a plan for a joint effort to remove unexploded land mines.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article13334513.html#storylink=cpy

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia to halt bombings of FARC rebel bases for a month - president

Colombia to halt bombings of FARC rebel bases for a month - president
By Julia Symmes Cobb
BOGOTA Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:48am GMT


(Reuters) - Colombia's armed forces will halt bombing raids against Marxist FARC rebels for one month, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday, in recognition of a unilateral ceasefire declared by the guerrillas as peace talks with the government advance.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels declared a ceasefire on Dec. 18, but the government had until now refused to reciprocate or halt attacks against the guerrillas.

Ceasing aerial raids, which have been the military's most lethal means of attacking the FARC, could possibly be extended if the rebels continue to hold to their ceasefire, Santos said in a televised address.

"In regards to the indefinite, unilateral ceasefire declared by the FARC on Dec. 18, we must recognise that they have fulfilled it," Santos said.

More:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/11/uk-colombia-rebels-idUKKBN0M701N20150311?rpc=401