The ELN is currently in peace negotiations with the Colombian government and announces in a video released on social media that it does not intend to use violence between December 24 and January 2.
But, says a masked representative, the truce only applies to the military and the police, “because we have to be able to defend ourselves if we are attacked”.
The peace talks began in November in accordance with an election promise from the newly elected president, Gustavo Petro. Previous talks broke down when former president Iván Duque took power in 2018.