国际英语新闻:Colombian official says guerrilla group ELN lacks will for peace

BOGOTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's high commissioner for peace Miguel Ceballos said Friday that the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) has no intention of making peace with the government of President Ivan Duque.

"All the information revealed by the Ministry of Defense and the Attorney General's Office confirms the ELN's unwillingness for peace," Ceballos said.

The ELN is accused of planting and detonating a car bomb in the Thursday attack at the General Santander National Police Academy in southern area of the capital Bogota, which left at least 21 dead.

Ceballos said the ELN is found responsible for more than 400 criminal cases including kidnappings and the murders of more than 100 people since President Ivan Duque took office in August 2018, demonstrating no will for peace.

"For this reason, the president had not sent a spokesperson to negotiate with the ELN unless these criminal acts ... would cease," said Ceballos.

According to Ceballos, the ELN's violent acts have impeded the process of its peace talks with the government, which began in 2017 under the leadership of former President Juan Manuel Santos.