‘The war is over’

FARC’s chief negotiator, Ivan Marquez, announced, ‘the war is over’, nourishing hopes that Colombia can finally start to recover from the bitter, 50-year conflict. The deal will be signed at a ceremony on Monday but will only be implemented if it’s approved by the Colombian people in a referendum on 2nd October.

Unanimous agreement

The FARC leader, Rodrigo Londono whose nom de guerre is “Timochenko” made the following announcement: “We have agreed unanimously to end the conflict and to build a stable and lasting peace with the firm conviction that within it lie the seeds of transformation that the vast majority of people and the whole country is striving for.”

FARC leaders and the Colombian government started peace talks in Cuba in November 2012. The key issues included what concessions to make to the rebels and what kind of justice they should face.

The United Nations will play a key role in facilitating the peace process following the referendum though when asked what his ‘plan B’ would be if the referendum did not back the peace deal, President Santos said it would be “to go back to war”.

Victim-centred accord

“It’s the first time that the victims have been placed at the center of the solution to the conflict, said President Juan Manuel Santos. “Their rights, their rights to truth, to justice, to reparations and to non-repetition.”

According to the peace agreement, the government and rebels must provide land, loans and services to impoverished areas to help local populations.

From guerilla army to political party

FARC will make the transformation from guerilla army to political party with 5 seats in the senate and 5 in the lower house.

The ceasefire, which began on August 29th, will be reinforced. The estimated 7000 FARC fighters must hand over their weapons within 180 days and move into 28 disarmament zones set up by the UN.

Two-way concessions

FARC members will receive a 2-year pension and a one-off payment of 610 euros.

In order for the government to combat drug crime,
FARC has agreed to stop cocaine production in its strongholds. In return, the government will help farmers there earn a new living.

Amnesty will be granted for political crimes but not for massacres, torture or rape. There has been criticism of the fact that guerrilla leaders are unlikely to serve any time in prison.

The victims and the dead

Of the almost 260,000 Colombians who have died as a result of the conflict, around 80% were civilians and over seven million people have registered as victims.

Right-wing paramilitaries, set up to combat FARC are said to be responsible for over half of the massacres.

President Santos though hopeful that the deal will be a lasting one, pointed out that it will take a long time for Columbia to recover from the conflict.