Colombian government distrusts ELN's willingness for peace

The Colombian government said it distrusts the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla's willingness for peace talks, denouncing the recent appalling actions allegedly conducted by the group.

"This ghoulish act of displaying the maimed legs of a soldier is unacceptable and deserves condemnation of all society," said Minister of Interior Juan Fernando Cristo, referring to the exhibiting the maimed legs of a soldier near a school in Catatumbo in the northeastern Norte de Santander department.

The senior official also expressed solidarity with the land mine victim, corporal Edward Avila, and his family.

"We can not imagine what goes through their minds. Unfortunately, there is an intense military activity in Catatumbo and we doubt the ELN's intention for peace," Cristo said.

The Colombian government and the insurgent group have been in an exploratory phase to begin a peace process since June 2014, the minister said.

President Juan Manuel Santos said from Mexico that the ELN committed an insane act and asked the country's defense minister to intensify the offensive against the guerrillas, the second biggest rebel group after the FARC in the South American country.

"Laying mines is an act of savagery, which also violates the rules of international humanitarian law. Showing a leg trophy next to a school is a barbaric act that borders on insanity," said Santos, noting that this type of action does not contribute to the approaches to initiate a peace process.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Juan Carlos Pinzon described the ELN rebels who committed this act as "rats" and they can only wait for grave or prison, asking the local community of Catatumbo to give any information that would lead to the capture the rebels involved.

The government's chief negotiator in peace talks with the FARC in Havana, Humberto de la Calle, also condemned what he considered an act of "cruelty" to be disowned by the national and international community.