In September of 2020, the Colombian government signed a historic peace agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group that has been active in Colombia since the 1960s. While this agreement was seen as a major step forward in the ongoing effort to bring peace to Colombia, there were some who were strongly opposed to it.
One of the main groups that were against the peace agreement was the conservative opposition party, led by former president Alvaro Uribe. Uribe and his supporters argued that the agreement was too lenient on the ELN and gave the group too many concessions without holding them accountable for their actions.
The opposition also criticized the fact that the peace agreement did not include a complete disarmament of the ELN. While the group did pledge to reduce their activities, Uribe and others argued that without a complete disarmament, the ELN would still have the ability to launch attacks and continue their criminal activities.
Another group that was opposed to the peace agreement was the families of victims of ELN violence. These families argued that the agreement did not go far enough in holding the ELN accountable for their crimes against the Colombian people, and that the group should not be given any concessions until they have fully repented for their actions.
Despite this opposition, however, the peace agreement was ultimately signed and is now in effect. While there may still be disagreements and pushback from some groups, the fact that the Colombian government was able to negotiate a peace agreement with one of the country`s most notorious and violent guerrilla groups is a major achievement in itself. Only time will tell whether the peace will hold, but for now, many people in Colombia are hoping that this agreement will be the beginning of a new era of peace and stability in their country.
