Colombians celebrate in Bogota on Wednesday as they watch on a giant screen broadcasting the signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the FARC in Havana.
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Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal but Santos, who has staked his legacy on peace, will face fierce opposition from powerful sectors of the country who believe the only solution is to finish the FARC militarily.
The team that spent almost four years negotiating with the FARC in Havana held a news conference to defend the deal, saying the government and society must help integrate the fighters, some who have spent decades in camps. The Colombian President said Wednesday that as part of the peace plan FARC will be given 10 seats in Colombia’s Congress until 2026.
Negotiators reached the accord after working around the clock for several days hammering out the final sensitive details left to the end of the talks. “We have reached a final, complete, definitive agreement to end the armed conflict with the Farc”. “This text can not be modified”, he said.
The United States strongly supports this accord that can achieve a just and lasting peace for all Colombians. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “warmly” congratulated the leaders that struck the deal for their “hard work and patience in reaching this stage in the process”.
“It is also important that the global community supports this agreement, not just through positive diplomatic engagement with the Colombian government, but also with open lateral engagement with wider democratic and civil society players throughout Colombia”.
Obama also pledged to continue the U.S. bipartisan tradition of support for strengthening Colombia’s institutions and improving the lives of the Colombian people, the statement said.
“I want my grandchildren to see peace”, said Alba Gomez, who was driven from her home by the FARC a decade ago. Three attempts since 1983 have failed. “This is an opportunity for Colombia to begin to heal and rebuild”, de Blasio said in a statement. The former guerrilla commander went on to claim that “the battle of weapons ends where the battle of ideas begins”.
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.
Colombians will get a chance to vote on the accord on October 2. Under the terms of the plebiscite vote, only a 13 percent threshold is needed for approval.
In his speech, Santos said the peace deal would bring humanitarian benefits to those internally displaced by the decades-old armed conflict, allowing almost 7 million people to return to their home regions and have a dignified life.
Under the agreement, FARC rank-and-file soldiers will lay down their heavy weapons, leave jungle camps, and slowly reincorporate into Colombian society with the help of government training programs.
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“The decision, Colombians, is in your hands”.
