AFP. 8 January 2002. FARC offers timetable, with ceasefire, to Colombia's Pastrana.
BOGOTA -- The head of Colombia's largest and oldest guerrilla force, known as FARC, on Tuesday dispatched a letter to President Andres Pastrana that included a timetable for peace negotiations, including a ceasefire. In the document, obtained by AFP, Manuel Marulanda, the longtime head of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also reiterated his proposal that Pastrana and FARC convene a summit January 15 with government, church and business leaders. Officials would discuss prospects for peace and a ceasefire, Marulanda suggested, but also employment and possible unemployment insurance for those without work. Earlier Tuesday, the two sides completed another round of talks without reaching an agreement to revisit the peace plan, though they announced plans to meet again Wednesday -- a potential watershed moment for the future of three-year-old dialogue, the government's top peace negotiator said. Peace Commissioner Camilo Gomez told reporters that Wednesday, perhaps, would be the day both sides could agree on solutions to bring an end to the nearly four-decades-long civil war that has killed more than 200,000 people. FARC has sought a decreased military presence around the Switzerland-sized rebel haven it controls but was rebuffed by the commander of the armed forces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
