Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the army Thursday to observe a definitive ceasefire with the FARC rebels after the two sides reached a deal to end their half-century conflict.
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The Colombian government’s chief negotiator in peace talks with FARC rebels in the Cuban capital on Thursday urged all of his countrymen to vote in an October 2 referendum on the agreement the two sides finalized this week.
Santos declared that the long war is over, as well as the pain, suffering and tragedy around it. I also want to recognize the hard work and commitment of the negotiating teams, as well as the constructive role of Norway and Cuba, guarantors of the peace process over the past four years.
President Barack Obama congratulated Santos by phone and praised Wednesday’s peace deal.
“In essence, that’s what Colombians must do, counterbalance those things that they probably don’t like from what we did yesterday (in agreeing the deal), against future prospects for ending a conflict and open opportunities for growth, a future, for an improvement in political life”, said the Colombian government’s chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle.
The spokesperson added: “Britain led the drafting of a United Nations security council resolution to secure worldwide support for verifying the ceasefire, and the UK has given practical advice based on our peace-building experience in Northern Ireland”.
In this regard, the High Commissioner for Peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said the guerrilla members should participate in a democracy, to campaign and convince the Colombians of their ideas, and to ensure that a life insurance is assured with this transition.
The accord commits Colombia’s government to carrying out aggressive land reform, overhauling its anti-narcotics strategy and greatly expanding the state’s presence in long-neglected areas.
For years the peace talks between Santos and FARC leaders in Havana had been divisive.
Many Colombians strongly believe the rebels should face the justice system for crimes they have committed.
Santos’ plebiscite is not without risks.
Opinion polls are mixed on how Colombians will vote.
But peace, an idea once thought impossible, is within reach. “We have to wait for the citizens’ verdict”.
After the agreement is signed the date is still unknown the FARC will begin mobilizing its troops to 31 zones scattered across Colombia.
More than 220,000 have died in the fighting between the government and Marxist rebels over five decades.
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