The biggest Colombian criminal group declared in a public statement Tuesday that they accepted President Gustavo Petro’s offer to start peace negotiations. The criminal group indicated they will cooperate with the government if everything is handled as a political process, contrary to the president’s indication.

This criminal group, well-known as Clan del Golfo, has emerged from the remnants of the Colombian paramilitary movement and has had a negative impact on the country due to the activities they are allegedly involved in such as drug trafficking. It has caused fear and insecurity among the society. For instance, the president declared on Sunday the suspension of a ceasefire against this clan due to accusations of rifle assaults on police forces.

President Gustavo Petro indicated during a press conference that the government is willing to initiate negotiations with the criminal organization. Nevertheless, it was emphasized that such negotiations would have numerous conditions and if the clan didn’t follow them, there would be consequences. Petro stated that:

We don’t enter into negotiations with the government to double drug trafficking but to end it. You have to consider that we would negotiate [legally speaking] what paths Colombian justice could open so that these types of organizations cease to be criminal. I put it on the table, are you willing to leave illicit businesses?

The criminal group responded to the president’s speech, specifying that their name is Ejército Gaitanista de Colombia, not Clan del Golfo. They also added that they “accept the invitation to negotiate the political conditions needed to engage social changes wanted by all of us in the region.”

Furthermore, they stated that the “illicit economies existed before we were a reality as an organization, we didn’t create them. Nevertheless, we do accept the existence of a ‘coca tax’ in between.” A coca tax is an amount of money that is charged to coca leaf producers. Although it might sound contradictory for a criminal group to charge taxes, analysts of this conflict indicated that what this group considers as “taxes” are illicit activities.

In addition to all of that, they denied being related “in any way to human trafficking that takes advantage of the aspirations of migrants,” adding that they “acknowledge this is a path that has many challenges but we are willing to go through it alongside our community.” According to both parties, it seems that they are willing to negotiate but have not established clear guidelines yet.