Mediators say Colombia and the Marxist FARC rebels have agreed to will resume peace talks, which were put on hold last month over the abduction of an army general, who has since been released and has resigned.  But a funny thing happened on the way back to the peace table.

Cuba and Norway are brokering the process of bringing the FARC in from the jungle and back to the political process.  Negotiators say a week of discussions would begin in Havana on 10 December.

Talks were put on hold last month when FARC militants captured General Ruben Dario Alzate – who had broken military protocols by leaving his uniform behind, and traveling up a river in an area with a heavy FARC presence, without his usual bodyguards.  What is not clear is why he did this and what he was doing.

Alzate claimed he had traveled to the area to discuss a hydro-electric power scheme with the Chocos community in western Colombia.  But according to a report from Colombia’s Las2Orillas, sources in the community suggested he was there to “receive some perks for providing security in the area and allow the transfer of dredges and materials obtained from illegal mining in the rivers of Choco”.

There are also inconsistencies in Alzate’s account of his abduction.  The general claimed he was accosted and taken away by armed guerillas.  But a report in Medellin’s El Colombiano newspaper published last month quoted witnesses saying that Alzate met peacefully with the men, who were also dressed as civilians, and they all left together without signs of force or weapons. 

What is not in dispute is that Alzate resigned – and a day after that, President Juan Manuel Santos issued a stern warning to the military that acts of disloyalty would not be tolerated.

“Any officer, doesn't matter how important, showing the slightest sign of disloyalty or lack of discipline will be out of the military,” Santos admonished, adding that Alzate’s behavior had “put the country in difficulties” and that it was “an inexcusable error”.

But there likely will not be any further disciplinary actions against Alzate.  President Santos tells local radio that he “had no reason to disbelieve his version” of events, and Alzate’s resignation closes the matter.