Colombia, Farc reach agreement on rebels’ future if peace signed
Bogota government concedes future of 'political participation' in for Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels during ongoing negotiations in Cuba
Colombia’s government and Marxist Farc rebels reached a “fundamental agreement” on the guerrillas’ future in politics, one of the thorniest issues addressed in peace talks in Cuba, according to a joint statement on Wednesday.
The Farc, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been fighting the government in a jungle and urban conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people in the five decades since it began as a peasant movement seeking land reform.
The partial accord may clear the way for the Farc to enter Colombian politics, which chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle said would provide a “new democratic opening” and cement peace after an end of conflict.
“Never again politics and weapons together,” he said.
Like other Latin American guerrilla groups, the Farc aspires to become a political party if a peace deal is signed.
“We are completely satisfied with what we have agreed on the point of political participation,” Farc leader Ivan Marquez told reporters. “We are doing well. In no other peace process have we advanced as much as we have here in Havana. We have taken an important step in the right direction to end the conflict and to achieve a real democracy in Colombia.”
“These are real, positive advances toward a final agreement ... through which we will break once and for all the link between politics and weapons.”
President Juan Manuel Santos, criticised heavily by the opposition for negotiating with the rebels, has been eager to show progress after a year of talks that had until now yielded only incomplete agreement on the first of a five-point agenda.
“These are real, positive advances toward a final agreement ... through which we will break once and for all the link between politics and weapons,” he said in a televised address.
“Today I am much more convinced that peace is possible,” Santos said.
He dismissed the idea of a pause in peace talks before congressional and presidential elections next year, insisting they instead “accelerate” after making new progress.
Wednesday’s development will likely lift Santos’ popularity and provide momentum should he decide by the November 25 deadline to seek a second presidential term in elections next May. Many believe a second term hinges on progress in the peace talks.
The centre-right Santos has seen his approval ratings slump in the last few months, partly due to the perception he has offered too many concessions to the rebels in return for little.
Partial accord has been reached on land reform from an agenda that also includes reparation to the Farc’s victims, tackling Colombia’s drug trade, and an end to fighting.
Santos said Wednesday’s agreement foresaw extra transitional political representation in Congress for areas that have suffered the most violence and a special security regime for the exercise of political power, without saying what that entailed.
The slow pace of talks left many believing the latest effort would fail as had previous attempts to end the bloodshed.
Recent photos of Farc leaders smoking cigars and relaxing on a boat in Cuba drew anger from Colombians upset that the rebels have continued to bomb and kill while apparently enjoying their time in Havana.
Such sensitivity comes from experience. The last peace effort ended in shambles and yielded a stronger Farc.
In 1999 former President Andres Pastrana ceded the rebels a safe haven the size of Switzerland to promote talks. But they took advantage of the breathing space to train fighters, build more than 25 airstrips to fly drug shipments, and set up prison camps to hold hostages.
The two sides are unlikely to reveal many details of the agreement, but Colombians will be looking for clues on how much government negotiators have offered the rebels and how they will pay for their crimes.
Many will be unwilling to accept Farc leaders being given seats in congress – as the rebels have demanded – without first receiving jail terms and then passing through the electoral process.
While most Colombians are desperate to see an end to the war, initial euphoria over negotiations has worn off as many doubt talks will soon reach a successful end.
“Even though the agreement is partial, what was announced today is a defeat to those who have sought to darken or end the peace process and constitutes a strong basis to believe we could reach a definitive peace,” Ivan Cepeda, a leftist congressman, said.
Opposition leaders like former President Alvaro Uribe are furious that the Farc has tried to dictate government policy while it continues to bomb economic infrastructure and kill civilians and military personnel.
