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Colombian president to sign peace deal with Farc rebels today Colombian president to sign peace deal with Farc rebels today
(about 5 hours later)
The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, and the Marxist rebel leader Timochenko will sign a deal on Monday ending a half-century war that has killed a quarter of a million people, stymied the economy and made Colombia a byword for violence. The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, and the Marxist rebel leader Timochenko will use a pen made from a bullet on Monday to sign an agreement ending a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people and made their nation a byword for violence.
After four years of negotiations in Havana, Santos, 65, and Timochenko, a nom de guerre for the 57-year-old revolutionary, will shake hands for the first time on Colombian soil in front of world leaders. After four years of negotiations in Havana, Santos, 65, and Timochenko, a nom de guerre for 57-year-old revolutionary Rodrigo Londono, will shake hands on Colombian soil for the first time.
Their deal to end Latin America’s longest-running conflict will turn the Farc guerrilla group into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield it has occupied since 1964. About 2,500 foreign and local dignitaries will attend the ceremony scheduled for 5pm local time (6pm EST/10pm GMT) in the walled, colonial city of Cartagena.
About 2,500 foreign and local dignitaries will attend the ceremony in the colonial city of Cartagena, where huge billboards call on Colombians to accept the peace plan. The agreement to end Latin America’s longest-running conflict will turn the Farc guerrillas into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield they have occupied since 1964.
“I can’t believe this day has finally come. Peace is coming to Colombia,” said Juan Gamarra, 43, who sells jewellery in the walled city. “We are going to sign with a bullet-pen ... to illustrate the transition of bullets into education and future,” said Santos, who staked his reputation on achieving peace. Guests expected include the United Nations head, Ban Ki-moon, the Cuban president Raul Castro, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and victims of the conflict.
Guests include the UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, the Cuban president, Raúl Castro, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and victims of the conflict. “The UN will assist in the implementation of the accord and offer Colombians our complete support at a time that sees a new destiny for the nation,” Ban said before flying to Colombia.
Though there is widespread relief at an end to the bloodshed and kidnappings of past decades, the deal has caused divisions in Latin America’s fourth-biggest economy. Some, including influential former president Álvaro Uribe, are angered the accord allows rebels to enter congress without serving any jail time. Despite widespread relief at an end to the bloodshed and kidnappings of past decades, the deal has caused divisions in Latin America’s fourth-biggest economy. Influential former president Alvaro Uribe and others are angry that the accord allows rebels to enter parliament without serving any jail time.
The agreement must be ratified by a plebiscite on 2 October, but polls indicate it will pass easily. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) – which began as a peasant revolt, became big players in the cocaine trade and had as many as 20,000 fighters at their strongest – will hand over weapons to the United Nations within 180 days. Colombians will vote on 2 October on whether to ratify the agreement, but polls indicate it will pass easily. In Cartagena on Monday, huge billboards urged a “yes” vote.
“It’s such an important day – now we can fight politically, without blood, without war,” said Duvier, a 25-year-old rebel attending a Farc congress last week in the southern Yari Plains. The Farc, which stands for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, began as a peasant revolt, became a big player in the cocaine trade and at its strongest had 20,000 fighters. Now it must hand over weapons to the United Nations within 180 days.
Colombians are nervous about how the remaining 7,000 rebels will integrate into society, but most are optimistic peace will bring more positives than problems. Colombia’s economy has performed well compared with its neighbours in recent years, and peace should reduce security costs and open new areas for mining and oil companies. But crime gangs could try to fill the void and landmines hinder development. Colombians are nervous over how the remaining 7,000 rebels will integrate into society, but most are optimistic peace will bring more benefits than problems. “I can’t believe this day has finally come,” said an excited Juan Gamarra, 43, who sells jewellery in Cartagena.
With peace behind him, Santos, the scion of a wealthy Bogotá family, will hope to use the political capital to push his economic agenda, especially tax reforms, to compensate for a drop in income caused by a fall in oil prices. Colombia has performed better economically than its neighbours in recent years, and peace should reduce security costs and open new areas for mining and oil companies. But criminal gangs could try to fill the void, and landmines hinder development.
With peace achieved, Santos, a member of a wealthy Bogota family, will likely use the political capital to push his economic agenda, especially tax reforms to compensate for a drop in oil income caused by a fall in energy prices.
Big screens to watch the ceremony were being erected around the country of 49 million people.
“It’s such an important day,” said Duvier, a 25-year-old rebel attending a Farc congress last week in the southern Yari Plains that ratified the peace accord. “Now we can fight politically, without blood, without war.”