BOGOTA/HAVANA: 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 yesterday.
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 pave the way for 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 Reuters. “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.”
President Juan Manuel Santos, facing a barrage of criticism from the opposition for negotiating with the rebels, wants to show progress in the talks that have dragged on for a year and, until now, have yielded only incomplete agreement on the first of a five-point agenda.
The centre-right Santos has seen his approval ratings slump in the last few months, partly due to the perception that 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.
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 a shambles and yielded a stronger FARC.
REUTERS
