Colombia: The high commissioner for Peace who led the negotiations with the protesters resigns

The High Commissioner for Peace of the Government of Colombia, Miguel Ceballos, announced this Saturday his resignation just at the time that he is leading the talks with some of the sectors that lead the country’s anti-government protests and after the existence of a process for the possible opening of peace negotiations with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN). «After the 33 months during which I have had the honor of performing my duties (…), I wish to express to you that for reasons of character personal, I irrevocably resign from my position as High Commissioner for Peace, as of May 26, 2021 “, reads a letter dated May 3 and addressed to President Iván Duque shared by the High Commissioner for Peace in his Twitter account. Along with this message, Ceballos recalled that his first meeting as spokesman for the Colombian Government was with the National Unemployment Committee on May 8 “for to contribute to the search for solutions through the generation of trust and consensus. ”Likewise, regarding the revelation two weeks ago of the existence of peace negotiations with the ELN, Caracol Radio has pointed out that Ceballos has received criticism from opposition sectors for his positions regarding his work. On the other hand, Ceballos has stated in an interview with ‘El Tiempo’ that the resignation had already been raised since December and that he is satisfied with the tasks carried out so far as “verifying” that ELN ” he does not have the real will for peace “since” he has not released all the hostages and continues to commit crimes. “Regarding the negotiations with the sectors that are leading the anti-government protests, he stated that “people will know how to value the effort made by the Peace Commissioner” since he has managed to “set up a table” of talks “that had no hope whatsoever of ser. Also, in the interview he referred to “an awkwardness” with former president Álvaro Uribe. “On two occasions, unfortunately, I was not consulted in contacts in which he and his representatives had with the ELN” although he has asserted that this is not the reason for his resignation. Since the outbreak of the crisis in the Duque government due to the demonstrations that they devastate Colombia, the Minister of Finance, Alberto Carrasquilla, who presented the tax reform that triggered the protests, has resigned; the Foreign Minister, Claudia Blum; and this Friday, the Minister of Culture Felipe Buitrago has been replaced by Angélica Mayolo.