THE Colombian peace process was thrown into jeopardy on Thursday when the government withdrew safe passage permits for rebel negotiators.

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) negotiators were banned from visiting the liberation army’s camps as part of their “pedagogy of peace” programme.

Government negotiator Humberto de la Calle announced the move after photos and videos emerged showing Farc envoys — including lead negotiator Ivan Marquez— speaking to armed guerillas in the town of El Conejo in northeastern La Guajira province.

They were there to update cadres on the progress of the Cuban-mediated talks in Havana, now only a month away from conclusion, and persuade them to accept the deal.

“We’re finally going to achieve peace,” a Farc leader can be heard saying during the El Conejo visit in an audio recording released on Twitter. “Who wants peace? This is joy, cheer up my people!”

Mr de la Calle said the group “violated the agreed rules of the game of not having dealings with the civilian population much less participating with uniformed and armed men in a public event with the community.”

He demanded Cuba and co-mediator Norway work with the Red Cross to ensure Mr Marquez and the others immediately returned to Cuba.

Former president Alvaro Uribe, who allowed right-wing deaths squads to run wild, tweeted that the Farc was freely engaged in “armed politics” and repeated age-old allegations of drug-trafficking and extortion.

He also accused the “dictatorship” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro — who has supported the peace process — of giving refuge to the guerillas.