A splinter group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel front said on Wednesday it will not participate in a ceasefire agreement with the government, potentially derailing a resolution to nearly five decades of violent internal conflict in the South American nation.
In a statement, the Armando Rios First Front — a 200-member division of FARC — said it will not lay down arms and will continue its battle against the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos, according to Reuters.
“We have decided not to demobilize, we will continue the fight for the taking of power by the people for the people, independent of the decision taken by the rest of the members of the organization,” the statement said.
The peace deal was announced two weeks ago following more than three years of dialogue between the two sides.
The splinter group said it was calling on other FARC groups to pull out of the deal as well, reports Reuters.
[Reuters]
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Write to Rishi Iyengar at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com