ELN announces ceasefire for Colombia presidential election

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-12 04:30:27|Editor: Chengcheng
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BOGOTA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Colombia announced Monday a unilateral ceasefire during the second round of the country's presidential elections on June 17.

"The ELN has decreed a new suspension of military operations, from 00:00 on Friday June 15, until 24:00 on Tuesday 19," the group said on its website.

It added the ceasefire was "to aid the participation of Colombians in the second round of the elections."

The coming election will see two presidential candidates, Ivan Duque of the Democratic Center Party and Gustavo Petro from the Humane Colombia movement.

On May 14, the ELN held another ceasefire lasting through the first round of the election on May 20.

"Similarly to the first round of the presidential elections, we want to remark upon and highlight the importance of this historic coming together," said the ELN.

"While Colombia gets ready to vote, at the discussions we are having with the government, the ELN continues working to design the participation of society in a Great National Dialogue," it said.

President Juan Manuel Santos began a peace process with the ELN last year, which is currently in its fifth round of talks in Havana, Cuba.

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