Colombian rebel group calls temporary truce

BOGOTA: Colombia´s last recognized leftist guerrilla group, the ELN, has announced a month-long ceasefire in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a statement released Monday said. The rebels said they would unilaterally suspend military action from April 1 to the end of the month “as a humanitarian gesture.

The statement was disseminated by a group of Colombian senators who are seeking to establish a peace process with the group. The National Liberation Army, the group´s formal name, noted a recent appeal by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a halt to conflicts worldwide as nations grapple with the pandemic, and said that Colombian organizations had made similar requests.