The Colombian Peace Agreement (EN)

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Table of contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 5 History............................................................................................................................................ 5 Crimes committed....................................................................................................................... 8 The FARC.............................................................................................................................................. 9 The Armed Forces of Colombia................................................................................................. 10 The AUC and the BACRIM.............................................................................................................12 The Deal: an outline...................................................................................................................15 Challenges and opportunities................................................................................................23 FARC unity..........................................................................................................................................24 Spoilers and criminal dynamics..................................................................................................25 Negotiations with the ELN...........................................................................................................26 Impact of 2014 elections, public support and political deadlock..................................26 What lies ahead: Colombia after the rejection of the deal.............................................29 Endnotes...................................................................................................................................... 37 4
Introduction On August 24 th 2016, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the delegation of the government of Colombia announced that a final and definitive peace deal had been signed in Havana, Cuba. Following years of intense negotiations, which began in 2012, this landmark event entailed an immediate cessation of hostilities and represented a fundamental step in the pursuit of peace in Colombia. The final signature triggered a roadmap for disarming and demobilizing FARC forces, which led to a solemn signing ceremony attended by international dignitaries and the end of the conflict seemed to be at hand. The war has left more than 220,000 dead – of which 70% are believed to be civilians 1 – since its beginnings in 1964, and driven nearly 6 million Colombians from their homes – the highest number of internally displaced people in the world after Syria, according to United Nations (UN) estimates. Even if this chapter of Colombia’s history appeared to be coming to a close, questions remained about the implementation of the accord, with many critics arguing that the terms of the truce amounted to a concealed amnesty granted to those responsible for the violence. At the same time, the Colombian government had committed itself to fulfill its ambitious promises on rural development, transparency within the national army, reintegration and political participation of former combatants. In the meantime, on October 2 nd , the Colombian people were called upon to decide whether or not to approve the peace deal, and they have rejected it with a razor-thin majority: 50.21% against versus 49.78% in favor. 2 While the deal only addresses peace between the government and the FARC, other militant, paramilitary and narco-trafficking groups are still operating in the country, and may be further advantaged by the departure of the FARC. Some commentators insist that conditions have been “the most attractive to date for both parties to negotiate rather than continuing to fight,” 3 while many Colombians have expressed skepticism about negotiating with the FARC for a stable settlement: although their disbelief was considered the biggest challenge to be overcome, the result of the vote shows that this goal was not unequivocally achieved. Nevertheless, both parties have shown significant commitment and important progress has been made in many key areas. In conclusion, the achievement of a stable peace had never been nearer, Colombians have dismissed the conditions set out in the agreement already signed by the two parties and, although a resumption of hostilities does not appear imminent, the future of Colombia seems now marked by uncertainty. History The FARC were established in the early 1960s by Colombian Communist Party (PCC) leaders to protect rural communities who were implementing socialism in the countryside to address the needs of the campesinos, neglected by the central government. After a decade of political violence known as La Violencia (1948-1958), the resulting power-sharing agreement still excluded left-wing groups from participating in national politics – partly as a result of the success of the Cuban revolution. Starting from 5
Page 1 and 2: THE COLOMBIAN PEACE AGREEMENT HOW W
Page 3: The aim of this research is to prov
Page 7 and 8: INFORME GENERAL Centro Nacional de
Page 9 and 10: profits, land control is a fundamen
Page 11 and 12: and vacations were based tarnished
Page 13 and 14: ended in April 2006: more than 31,0
Page 15 and 16: countability process. These organiz
Page 17 and 18: post-conflict democracy - set out t
Page 19 and 20: maintain such measures as long as t
Page 21 and 22: such provisions since its inception
Page 23 and 24: 23 June 2016: President Santos and
Page 25 and 26: Carolina, in the jungle of Putumayo
Page 27 and 28: solution that they deem too lenient
Page 29 and 30: Even if an agreement on the FARC de
Page 31 and 32: The real political winner is Uribe,
Page 33 and 34: which the ex-guerrillas were schedu
Page 35 and 36: over child combatants to family-wel
Page 37 and 38: Endnotes 1 World Bank estimates say
Page 39 and 40: 41 Jon Lee Anderson, “At last, a
Page 41 and 42: 82 Informe anual del Alto Comisiona
Page 43 and 44: 119 WOLA Statement: “Peace is Sti
Page 45 and 46: 147 Nicholas Casey, “Colombia’s

The Colombian Peace Agreement (EN)

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