Colombian bishops to meet for talks with government, rebel forces

Published: 2006-02-14

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS) -- Four Colombian bishops were traveling to Cuba in mid-February to encourage members of the National Liberation Army, Colombia's second-largest rebel group, and government officials to take steps toward starting formal peace talks, said Bishop Jaime Prieto of Barrancabermeja. The bishops' trip to Havana for the second round of exploratory talks set to begin Feb. 17 follows the Feb. 6-10 general meeting of the Colombian bishops' conference in Bogota. At that meeting, the conference reiterated its resolve to continue to work for a negotiated end to Colombia's 40-year-old conflict. Pax Christi International, a Catholic peace movement, also recently published a report that called on the church to continue working for peace in Colombia. Speaking to reporters Feb. 10, Bishop Prieto said the bishops hoped to persuade the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym as ELN, and the government to discuss land mines, kidnapping and humanitarian accords, as they seek a preliminary agenda for peace talks. This second round of talks between government and rebel representatives will begin after the representatives meet with church officials and others from civil society.

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