In a statement released by his spokesman’s office, the High Representative called on the armed groups to immediately cease all hostilities against civilian population.

Guterres took note of the decision of the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, to suspend bilateral cease-fire with the EMC in several departments, following the attack of that guerrilla structure to an indigenous minga returning from Cali.

The bilateral and temporary suspension in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca implies the resumption of offensive military and police operations as of 00:00 local time on March 20.

The Central General Staff and the Government agreed on the cease-fire through July 15, after signing an extension past January.

“The EMC of Cauca in its different fronts did not give from the beginning any sign of wanting a serious peace process,” Petro assured.

“I regret that even without wanting it, they are withdrawing. The deaths that will come will be unnecessary, the life of the people should have taken precedence over hierarchies”, he stressed.

The President assured that his government cannot allow this armed structure, like the former Spanish slavers, to think that it is valid to kill indigenous and poor people in the territories of Colombia.

“I ask minors to try to withdraw as soon as possible from that organization and their young people to put the decisions of the constituent people of the southwest as their guide and not the boss with the ill-gotten money”, he urged.

npg/ebr