Peace negotiations between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is fast approaching its March deadline, and to keep the peace, President Juan Manuel Santos said in an executive resolution that they will not extradite one of the FARC rebels to the United States.

Colombia refused to turn over Juan Vicente Caravajal, known as Misael, to a New York court, despite being accused of drug trafficking. The order, which was signed by Santos in October, was made public on Tuesday. According to The Guardian, this is the first time that Colombia refused such extradition, as Caravajal is directly linked to the FARC, and is therefore already related to the three-year-old peace talks taking place in Havana, Cuba.

In the past, Colombia has extradited FARC members for a variety of crimes, including drug trafficking and kidnapping.

The peace talks seem to be in a precarious situation, considering that last week Santos just ordered the release of 30 rebels who were held in Colombian jail. This move was meant to be interpreted as a gesture of confidence in the peace talks to be signed by March 23 of next year.

Although not yet final, the peace talks have so far included agreements on rural reform and to call for an end to the drug trade and political participation for ex rebels. A sideline agreement also indicated removing land mines and looking for thousands of people who have disappeared over the years. Right now, negotiations are ongoing regarding rebel demobilization and reparations for victims.

As The New York Times noted, the peace treaty will have to end Latin America's longest war, which has already killed over 220,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 1964. As it is with the government's refusal to extradite Caravajal, they already warned that the final peace deal will probably include a protection clause for former rebels from being extradited to the United States. Reuters added that the two sides also agreed in September that former combatants will be provided amnesty or at least reduced sentences once the final peace deal is signed.

These provisions have generated a lot of controversy in Colombia, where critics are quick to point out mistrust from the public -- most of them want harsher punishments for their enemies of over half a century.

Not everything in the peace agreement is designed to protect FARC rebels, though. As retired general and member of the government negotiation team, Jorge Enrique Mora, pointed out, "We aren't in this process to divide the country, nor to hand over ungovernable territories. Our constitution will not be replaced at the (negotiating) table."