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Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal
(35 minutes later)
Voters in Colombia have rejected a landmark peace deal with Farc rebels in a shock referendum result, with 50.24% voting against it.Voters in Colombia have rejected a landmark peace deal with Farc rebels in a shock referendum result, with 50.24% voting against it.
The deal was signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez after nearly four years of negotiations.The deal was signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez after nearly four years of negotiations.
But it needed to be ratified by Colombians in order to come into force.But it needed to be ratified by Colombians in order to come into force.
Farc rebels had agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of conflict to join the political process. Addressing the nation, President Santos accepted the result but said he would continue working to achieve peace.
President Santos has previously warned that there is no plan B for ending the war, which has killed 260,000 people. He said the current ceasefire remained in place and that he had ordered negotiators to travel to Cuba to consult Farc leaders on the next move.
With votes in from more than 99% of polling stations counted, 50.2% opposed the accord while 49.8% supported it - a difference of less than 63,000 votes out of 13 million ballots. Meanwhile the Farc leader, known as Timochenko, said the group remained committed to securing an end to the war.
Turnout was low at less than 40%. The rebels earlier agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of conflict to join the political process.
But critics said the deal treated the Farc, which the US still considers a terrorist group, too leniently.
With votes in from more than 99% of polling stations counted, 50.2% opposed the accord while 49.8% supported it - a difference of less than 63,000 votes out of 13 million ballots. Turnout was low at less than 40%.
The surprise result means the peace process is now shrouded by uncertainty.The surprise result means the peace process is now shrouded by uncertainty.
It is a major setback to President Juan Manuel Santos, who since his election in 2010 had pledged to end a conflict blamed for displacing about eight million people. Former Vice-President Francisco Santos, who opposed the deal, said he hoped a better agreement would follow.
Less than a week ago, President Santos was celebrating with world leaders and Farc commanders the end of Latin America's last and longest-running armed conflict at a ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena. "The "no" victory is a victory for peace with justice, it is a victory for a peace with pardon and reconciliation. The triumph of the "no" is the triumph of a more inclusive peace, peace which includes us all, a more stable peace," he said.
President Santos had previously warned that there was no plan B for ending the war, which has killed 260,000 people.
The result is a major setback to the president, who since his election in 2010 had pledged to end a conflict blamed for displacing about eight million people.
Less than a week ago, he was celebrating with world leaders and Farc commanders the end of Latin America's last and longest-running armed conflict at a ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena.
The rebels were making plans to lay down their weapons and become a political party within six months.The rebels were making plans to lay down their weapons and become a political party within six months.
But the president is now facing one of the most difficult moments in Colombia's recent history, says the BBC's Americas Editor Leonardo Rocha.But the president is now facing one of the most difficult moments in Colombia's recent history, says the BBC's Americas Editor Leonardo Rocha.
If he sticks to his word about there being no plan B, the bilateral ceasefire will be lifted and the war will resume, our correspondent says.If he sticks to his word about there being no plan B, the bilateral ceasefire will be lifted and the war will resume, our correspondent says.
Opposition to the peace accord was led by influential former President Alvaro Uribe. He argued that the government was treating Farc too leniently.
He said that if the 'no' vote prevailed, the government should go back to the negotiating table.
Correspondents say that the government had been accused of taking victory for granted.
The Farc's 52-year fightThe Farc's 52-year fight
1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party
2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages
2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year
2012: Start of peace talks in Havana2012: Start of peace talks in Havana
2016: Definitive ceasefire2016: Definitive ceasefire
Full timeline of Farc conflictFull timeline of Farc conflict
The 297-page peace deal is a deeply divisive issue in Colombia. The 297-page peace deal is a deeply divisive issue in Colombia, and the government has been accused of taking victory for granted.
Many in the country unambiguously detest the Farc, which the US still considers a terrorist group.
Many of those opposed to the deal were angry that it would have spared the rebels time in prison when they were responsible for so many deaths and displacements.Many of those opposed to the deal were angry that it would have spared the rebels time in prison when they were responsible for so many deaths and displacements.
The government tried to offset these concerns throughout the referendum campaign by spending heavily on television adverts in addition to staging concerts and peace rallies throughout the country in a bid to get people out to vote.The government tried to offset these concerns throughout the referendum campaign by spending heavily on television adverts in addition to staging concerts and peace rallies throughout the country in a bid to get people out to vote.
It called on the support of U2's Bono and former Beatle Ringo Starr - and for the first time in an election made ballots available in Braille so blind Colombians could vote.It called on the support of U2's Bono and former Beatle Ringo Starr - and for the first time in an election made ballots available in Braille so blind Colombians could vote.