Conghaileach
27th August 2003, 17:51
JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE FARC-EP AND THE ELN
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army, FARC-EP, and
the National Liberation Army of Colombia, ELN, inform the Colombian and
Latin American people that:
We, the leadership of both organizations, met recently in the mountains of
Colombia in an atmosphere of camaraderie, fraternity and mutual respect,
fully agreeing in:
Characterizing the current regime of Uribe Velez as the enemy of peace, a
warmonger by conviction, the generator of misery for the broad national
majorities, and a prostitute of imperialist policy for our peoples and
nations.
Because of this character, we confirm that while the illegitimate
government of Alvaro Uribe Velez persists with its fascist and militarist
policies, we will not proceed with any process of political rapprochement
and national dialogue.
Nevertheless, we reiterate our commitment to peace and the pursuit of
political solutions to the social and armed conflict that is bleeding our
Colombia, and for this aim we will persist in:
- Pushing forward all the political processes that favour peace with social
justice and the pursuit of political alternatives in opposition to Plan
Colombia and the FTAA.
- Confirming the policy of an exchange of the prisoners of war and
political detainees being held by the sides.
- Supporting the struggles of the Colombian people against the disastrous
privatizations, the repression of all just social protest, the cutting of
pension rights, the fiscal adjustment programme, and in defence of the
public wealth and national sovereignty.
We call upon the Colombian people and international public opinion to
mobilize and denounce the anti-democratic policies of the current
government that aims to cut the few civil, citizen, democratic and
political freedoms, through application of the anti-terrorist statute, the
policy of “Democratic Security”, and the embroiling of the civilian
population in the war.
We reject the Referendum called by the regime for the coming days in order
to use it to strengthen state terrorism, militarist authoritarianism and
the surrender of our national sovereignty.In the face of the present social
and political crisis we Colombians are suffering, we reaffirm that all the
democratic, patriotic, revolutionary and guerrilla forces are compelled to
work for the formation and construction of a new democratic and patriotic
government to once and for all face the process of national reconstruction
and unity within a framework of defence of our sovereignty and of the
dignity of the national majorities.
Committed as we are to make of Colombia a nation that is just for all; we
of the FARC-EP and the ELN will persist with renewed strength and
revolutionary enthusiasm on the roads blazed during our 39 years of
existence, holding high the banners of unity, patriotism and anti-imperialism.
“AGAINST IMPERIALISM, FOR THE NATION,
AGAINST THE OLIGARCHY, FOR THE PEOPLE… UNTIL FINAL VICTORY.
COLOMBIA FOR THE WORKERS
NOT ONE STEP BACK… LIBERATION OR DEATH”.
For the FARC-EP
The Secretariat of the General Staff
For the ELN
Central Command
Mountains of Colombia, July 13, 2003
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army, FARC-EP, and
the National Liberation Army of Colombia, ELN, inform the Colombian and
Latin American people that:
We, the leadership of both organizations, met recently in the mountains of
Colombia in an atmosphere of camaraderie, fraternity and mutual respect,
fully agreeing in:
Characterizing the current regime of Uribe Velez as the enemy of peace, a
warmonger by conviction, the generator of misery for the broad national
majorities, and a prostitute of imperialist policy for our peoples and
nations.
Because of this character, we confirm that while the illegitimate
government of Alvaro Uribe Velez persists with its fascist and militarist
policies, we will not proceed with any process of political rapprochement
and national dialogue.
Nevertheless, we reiterate our commitment to peace and the pursuit of
political solutions to the social and armed conflict that is bleeding our
Colombia, and for this aim we will persist in:
- Pushing forward all the political processes that favour peace with social
justice and the pursuit of political alternatives in opposition to Plan
Colombia and the FTAA.
- Confirming the policy of an exchange of the prisoners of war and
political detainees being held by the sides.
- Supporting the struggles of the Colombian people against the disastrous
privatizations, the repression of all just social protest, the cutting of
pension rights, the fiscal adjustment programme, and in defence of the
public wealth and national sovereignty.
We call upon the Colombian people and international public opinion to
mobilize and denounce the anti-democratic policies of the current
government that aims to cut the few civil, citizen, democratic and
political freedoms, through application of the anti-terrorist statute, the
policy of “Democratic Security”, and the embroiling of the civilian
population in the war.
We reject the Referendum called by the regime for the coming days in order
to use it to strengthen state terrorism, militarist authoritarianism and
the surrender of our national sovereignty.In the face of the present social
and political crisis we Colombians are suffering, we reaffirm that all the
democratic, patriotic, revolutionary and guerrilla forces are compelled to
work for the formation and construction of a new democratic and patriotic
government to once and for all face the process of national reconstruction
and unity within a framework of defence of our sovereignty and of the
dignity of the national majorities.
Committed as we are to make of Colombia a nation that is just for all; we
of the FARC-EP and the ELN will persist with renewed strength and
revolutionary enthusiasm on the roads blazed during our 39 years of
existence, holding high the banners of unity, patriotism and anti-imperialism.
“AGAINST IMPERIALISM, FOR THE NATION,
AGAINST THE OLIGARCHY, FOR THE PEOPLE… UNTIL FINAL VICTORY.
COLOMBIA FOR THE WORKERS
NOT ONE STEP BACK… LIBERATION OR DEATH”.
For the FARC-EP
The Secretariat of the General Staff
For the ELN
Central Command
Mountains of Colombia, July 13, 2003