In Columbia at least 23 people were killed in clashes between armed groups, the National Liberation Army and the Revolutionary Armed of Columbia.

At least 23 dead in clashes in Arauca, Colombia

At 13, she left home to join the guerrillas. Now, at 15, Yeimi Sofía Vega lay in a coffin, killed during a military operation ordered by her government.

Some of the youngest children in her town, Puerto Cachicamo, led her funeral procession, waving small white flags as they wound past the school, with its mildewed books and broken benches, past the shuttered health clinic and their small wooden houses.

“We don’t want bombs,” the children chanted, marching down a dusty road to the cemetery. “We want opportunities.”

Nearly five years after Colombia signed a historic peace accord with its largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country’s internal war is far from over.

Remote towns like Puerto Cachicamo have yet to see the schools, clinics and jobs the government promised in the agreement. Thousands of dissident FARC combatants have returned to battle, or never laid down their arms, and are fighting rivals for control of illicit markets. Mass killings and forced displacement are again regular occurrences.

And young people — trapped between an often absent state, the aggressive recruitment of armed groups and the firepower of the military — are once again the conflict’s most vulnerable targets.

That was evident this month, when the government bombed a rebel camp in an effort to take out a high-profile dissident FARC leader known by the alias Gentil Duarte. The camp turned out to be full of young people who had been recruited by the group — and the operation killed at least two minors, including Yeimi Sofía.

The defense minister, Diego Molano, blamed the rebels for the deaths, pointing out that they were the ones turning adolescents into government targets by converting them into “machines of war.”

The phrase electrified Colombian society, with some saying Molano was being blunt but precise, and others saying it was this rhetoric — characterizing poor children as enemies of the state, instead of victims of its neglect — that was once again driving young people to the guerrillas.

Child recruitment was a common feature of the country’s decadeslong war. Now, rebels are at it again, circling town plazas, hanging recruitment posters, passing money to adolescents, charming the girls, then persuading them to join the fight.

The bombing also raised critical questions of accountability in a country still grappling with atrocities committed by all sides during a conflict that left at least 220,000 dead: Did authorities know there were minors at the camp? Was the attack launched anyway?

Puerto Cachicamo sits on the Guayabero River, at the intersection of the Andes Mountains, the Amazon region, and the country’s vast plains. One of its defining characteristics is the near total absence of the state.

Before the peace deal, the FARC had a grip on this region, punishing petty criminals, issuing taxes and organizing work crews, all under the threat of violence. They also commonly recruited young people.

In 2016, when the FARC signed the peace deal and demobilized, its fighters left in a fleet of boats on the Guayabero River.

Three months later, the FARC dissidents arrived, said Jhon Albert Montilla, 36, the father of another girl killed in the military bombing, Danna Liseth Montilla, 16.

The last time Montilla saw his daughter was Jan. 1, he said. Danna, who turned 16 in October, was an aspiring journalist who had begun working with Voces del Guayabero, a group of citizen documentarians.

Just as the pandemic began, the government had stepped up coca eradication in the area, prompting protests from locals who saw their livelihoods in danger. Cameramen from Voces rushed to the scenes.

As the military clashed with protesters — shooting several civilians during different encounters — Danna sat in a small shop, one of the few places in Puerto Cachicamo with reliable electricity, editing the videos and uploading them to the internet over a feeble connection.

“But her desire was to be with us in the field,” said Fernando Montes Osorio, a cameraman with Voces who was shot in one clash, leaving his hand permanently mangled.

Because Danna was young, he kept her in the editing room, he said. But they spoke often. “She was focused on the idea that things had to change.”

Then one day in January, she disappeared.

This was not the first time since the peace accord that the government has killed minors in a military operation.

The bombing of another FARC dissident camp in 2019 led to the deaths of eight children and adolescents. Guillermo Botero, then minister of defense, was forced to resign months later, after an opposition senator revealed that he had hidden the victims’ ages from the public.

The scandal was a major test for newly installed President Iván Duque, a conservative whose party vociferously opposed the peace deal.

His critics say his post-accord strategy focuses too much on taking out big-name criminal leaders, and not enough on implementing social programs that were supposed to address the root causes of the war.

His supporters have urged patience. “We cannot undo 56 years of war in just two years,” said Duque’s high commissioner for peace, Miguel Ceballos, in an interview last year.

A total of 12 people died in the operation this month, and it’s still unclear how many of them were minors.

The bombing killed 10 people, according to the military, while two died in confrontations afterward. Most of the dead identified so far by the national medical examiner’s office are between the ages of 19 and 23.&nbsp;It’s unclear whether the March bombing was legal, said René Provost, a professor of international law at McGill University.

Under international law, children who join an armed group can become combatants, and can therefore be legally attacked by governments.

But the law also requires state actors to investigate whether minors are present at a particular target, and if they are, to search for alternative strategies that might spare the children, or to consider whether the value of the target is high enough to justify the deaths of adolescents.

“Humanitarian law imposes a duty to exercise restraints in attacks against child soldiers,” he said, “and if such duties were ignored, it opens the door for criminal accountability for those who took the decisions.”

In the most extreme circumstance, if a government fails to investigate and punish those responsible, such a case could be taken up by the International Criminal Court.

In an interview, defense minister Diego Molano said that the attack fit within the parameters of international law.

He declined repeatedly to say whether the military knew if minors were present at the camp, adding that it was generally “very difficult” to determine the ages of people present at a military target.

But he has also said that the presence of children would not necessarily stop such an operation.

“What criminals like Gentil Duarte have to take into account is that they cannot continue to recruit young people and hope that this will limit the use of the legitimate force of the state,” he told the newspaper El Espectador. “Children must be protected when appropriate, but force must also be used.”

At 13, she left home to join the guerrillas. Now, at 15, Yeimi Sofía Vega lay in a coffin, killed during a military operation ordered by her government. Some of the youngest children in her town, Puerto Cachicamo, led her funeral procession, waving small white flags as they wound past the school, with its mildewed books and broken benches, past the shuttered health clinic and their small wooden houses.

At 13, she left home to join the guerrillas. Now, at 15, Yeimi Sofía Vega lay in a coffin, killed during a military operation ordered by her government. Some of the youngest children in her town, Puerto Cachicamo, led her funeral procession, waving small white flags as they wound past the school, with its mildewed books and broken benches, past the shuttered health clinic and their small wooden houses. “We don’t want bombs,” the children chanted, marching down a dusty road to the cemetery. “We want opportunities.” Nearly five years after Colombia signed a historic peace accord with its largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country’s internal war is far from over. Remote towns like Puerto Cachicamo have yet to see the schools, clinics and jobs the government promised in the agreement. Thousands of dissident FARC combatants have returned to battle, or never laid down their arms, and are fighting rivals for control of illicit markets. Mass killings and forced displacement are again regular occurrences. And young people — trapped between an often absent state, the aggressive recruitment of armed groups and the firepower of the military — are once again the conflict’s most vulnerable targets. That was evident this month, when the government bombed a rebel camp in an effort to take out a high-profile dissident FARC leader known by the alias Gentil Duarte. The camp turned out to be full of young people who had been recruited by the group — and the operation killed at least two minors, including Yeimi Sofía. The defense minister, Diego Molano, blamed the rebels for the deaths, pointing out that they were the ones turning adolescents into government targets by converting them into “machines of war.” The phrase electrified Colombian society, with some saying Molano was being blunt but precise, and others saying it was this rhetoric — characterizing poor children as enemies of the state, instead of victims of its neglect — that was once again driving young people to the guerrillas. Child recruitment was a common feature of the country’s decadeslong war. Now, rebels are at it again, circling town plazas, hanging recruitment posters, passing money to adolescents, charming the girls, then persuading them to join the fight. The bombing also raised critical questions of accountability in a country still grappling with atrocities committed by all sides during a conflict that left at least 220,000 dead: Did authorities know there were minors at the camp? Was the attack launched anyway? Puerto Cachicamo sits on the Guayabero River, at the intersection of the Andes Mountains, the Amazon region, and the country’s vast plains. One of its defining characteristics is the near total absence of the state. Before the peace deal, the FARC had a grip on this region, punishing petty criminals, issuing taxes and organizing work crews, all under the threat of violence. They also commonly recruited young people. In 2016, when the FARC signed the peace deal and demobilized, its fighters left in a fleet of boats on the Guayabero River. Three months later, the FARC dissidents arrived, said Jhon Albert Montilla, 36, the father of another girl killed in the military bombing, Danna Liseth Montilla, 16. The last time Montilla saw his daughter was Jan. 1, he said. Danna, who turned 16 in October, was an aspiring journalist who had begun working with Voces del Guayabero, a group of citizen documentarians. Just as the pandemic began, the government had stepped up coca eradication in the area, prompting protests from locals who saw their livelihoods in danger. Cameramen from Voces rushed to the scenes. As the military clashed with protesters — shooting several civilians during different encounters — Danna sat in a small shop, one of the few places in Puerto Cachicamo with reliable electricity, editing the videos and uploading them to the internet over a feeble connection. “But her desire was to be with us in the field,” said Fernando Montes Osorio, a cameraman with Voces who was shot in one clash, leaving his hand permanently mangled. Because Danna was young, he kept her in the editing room, he said. But they spoke often. “She was focused on the idea that things had to change.” Then one day in January, she disappeared. This was not the first time since the peace accord that the government has killed minors in a military operation. The bombing of another FARC dissident camp in 2019 led to the deaths of eight children and adolescents. Guillermo Botero, then minister of defense, was forced to resign months later, after an opposition senator revealed that he had hidden the victims’ ages from the public. The scandal was a major test for newly installed President Iván Duque, a conservative whose party vociferously opposed the peace deal. His critics say his post-accord strategy focuses too much on taking out big-name criminal leaders, and not enough on implementing social programs that were supposed to address the root causes of the war. His supporters have urged patience. “We cannot undo 56 years of war in just two years,” said Duque’s high commissioner for peace, Miguel Ceballos, in an interview last year. A total of 12 people died in the operation this month, and it’s still unclear how many of them were minors. The bombing killed 10 people, according to the military, while two died in confrontations afterward. Most of the dead identified so far by the national medical examiner’s office are between the ages of 19 and 23. It’s unclear whether the March bombing was legal, said René Provost, a professor of international law at McGill University. Under international law, children who join an armed group can become combatants, and can therefore be legally attacked by governments. But the law also requires state actors to investigate whether minors are present at a particular target, and if they are, to search for alternative strategies that might spare the children, or to consider whether the value of the target is high enough to justify the deaths of adolescents. “Humanitarian law imposes a duty to exercise restraints in attacks against child soldiers,” he said, “and if such duties were ignored, it opens the door for criminal accountability for those who took the decisions.” In the most extreme circumstance, if a government fails to investigate and punish those responsible, such a case could be taken up by the International Criminal Court. In an interview, defense minister Diego Molano said that the attack fit within the parameters of international law. He declined repeatedly to say whether the military knew if minors were present at the camp, adding that it was generally “very difficult” to determine the ages of people present at a military target. But he has also said that the presence of children would not necessarily stop such an operation. “What criminals like Gentil Duarte have to take into account is that they cannot continue to recruit young people and hope that this will limit the use of the legitimate force of the state,” he told the newspaper El Espectador. “Children must be protected when appropriate, but force must also be used.”

Children trapped by Colombia’s war, five years after peace deal

After some delays, Colombia&#39;s FARC rebels could begin disarming in the coming weeks and the laying down of weapons under the historic peace deal could be completed by early June, a UN envoy has said.

Some 5,700 fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are to lay down their weapons under the agreement signed in November to end more than five decades of conflict in the South American country.

Jean Arnault yesterday told the Security Council that the main focus of the peace effort now was setting up 26 UN-monitored camps where the rebels will gather to hand over their weapons.

Once the camps are set up, this &quot;will hopefully allow the arms laydown process to begin in the next few weeks,&quot; said Arnault, the head of the UN political mission in Colombia.

Colombia&#39;s government and the rebel leadership are determined &quot;to do everything possible to meet the original goal of the comprehensive laydown of weapons by early June,&quot; he added.

An amnesty law passed in late December cleared one of the hurdles in the way of disarmament, but Arnault cited logistical problems linked to the large number and remote locations of the camps among other issues.

About 350 of the 450 monitors serving in a UN peace mission have been deployed to oversee the laying down of weapons.

Construction has begun on one-third of the camps while preparations are ongoing in another third, but the remainder face difficulties, said Arnault.

&quot;We do share the perception that an overly protracted process and a loss of momentum would not be in anybody&#39;s interest,&quot; the envoy said.

The UN mission was embroiled in controversy earlier this month when Colombian media broadcast videos of UN monitors dancing with FARC fighters at a New Year&#39;s Eve party at a camp.

Four monitors were repatriated to their home countries over the incident.

Swedish ambassador Olof Skoog, who holds the council presidency this month, said following closed-door talks on Colombia that &quot;everyone has welcomed the swift action taken by the leadership to rectify the situation.&quot;

(AFP)

Jean Arnault said the main focus now was setting up 26 UN-monitored camps, where the rebels will gather to hand over their weapons

After some delays, Colombia's FARC rebels could begin disarming in the coming weeks and the laying down of weapons under the historic peace deal could be completed by early June, a UN envoy has said. Some 5,700 fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are to lay down their weapons under the agreement signed in November to end more than five decades of conflict in the South American country. Jean Arnault yesterday told the Security Council that the main focus of the peace effort now was setting up 26 UN-monitored camps where the rebels will gather to hand over their weapons. Once the camps are set up, this "will hopefully allow the arms laydown process to begin in the next few weeks," said Arnault, the head of the UN political mission in Colombia. Colombia's government and the rebel leadership are determined "to do everything possible to meet the original goal of the comprehensive laydown of weapons by early June," he added. An amnesty law passed in late December cleared one of the hurdles in the way of disarmament, but Arnault cited logistical problems linked to the large number and remote locations of the camps among other issues. About 350 of the 450 monitors serving in a UN peace mission have been deployed to oversee the laying down of weapons. Construction has begun on one-third of the camps while preparations are ongoing in another third, but the remainder face difficulties, said Arnault. "We do share the perception that an overly protracted process and a loss of momentum would not be in anybody's interest," the envoy said. The UN mission was embroiled in controversy earlier this month when Colombian media broadcast videos of UN monitors dancing with FARC fighters at a New Year's Eve party at a camp. Four monitors were repatriated to their home countries over the incident. Swedish ambassador Olof Skoog, who holds the council presidency this month, said following closed-door talks on Colombia that "everyone has welcomed the swift action taken by the leadership to rectify the situation." (AFP)

Colombia rebels could begin disarming in coming weeks: UN envoy

After pushing a revised peace deal with the FARC rebels through Congress, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos got down to a far bigger challenge on Thursday: implementing it.

The lower house&#39;s unanimous vote in favour of the deal set off a countdown to end a conflict that has burned for over half a century and killed more than 260,000 people. &quot;Today we can say the war has officially ended,&quot; Santos said in a speech. &quot;We all have to continue making sacrifices, but I hope we will do so together.&quot;

Interior minister Juan Fernando Cristo told a news conference that Colombia now faces &quot;an enormous challenge&quot; to implement the accord.

Within five days, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, must begin demobilising and surrendering their weapons. Under the deal, the process must be complete within six months. The FARC will relaunch as a political party.

The next step, Cristo said, would be to present Congress with an amnesty for FARC members, the most contested part of the accord.

&nbsp;

Amnesty

Santos, who won this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize, said &quot;D-Day begins&quot; on Thursday. The delicate transition to peace will take place amid bitter opposition to the deal, which Santos&#39;s rivals say is too soft on the leftist guerrillas.

Voters rejected an earlier version of the deal in a referendum last month. That sent peace negotiators back to the drawing board after nearly four years of talks.

Rather than risk a second referendum, the government and rebels decided to have the revised deal ratified in Congress. Opponents say the new version includes only token changes.

The deal passed unanimously in both houses of Congress, where Santos has a majority. His top opponent, former president Alvaro Uribe, led a walkout by his right-wing party, the Democratic Center.

&quot;How is the Congress going to approve what the Colombian people rejected?&quot; Oscar Ivan Zuloaga, a former presidential candidate for Uribe&#39;s party, said during the House debate.

Uribe and his allies argue the deal grants impunity to rebels guilty of war crimes, giving them seats in Congress rather than sending them to jail.

The biggest bone of contention is an agreement for non-custodial sentences for FARC members who admit to their crimes. Under the deal, rebel leaders will be able to hold public office while still serving their sentences.

&nbsp;

Fragile ceasefire

Lawmakers must now approve a series of bills to implement the peace accord, beginning with the amnesty for the guerrillas.

&quot;A first set of pardons is currently being prepared,&quot; government peace delegate Sergio Jaramillo told the news conference. &quot;Meanwhile, an amnesty law will be submitted to the legislative process.&quot;

A ceasefire has been in effect since August, shaken by violence in recent weeks. Two guerrillas died in what the authorities described as a clash with the army. A wave of assassinations and attacks has also targeted community leaders in conflict areas.

&nbsp;

Disarmament

The FARC&#39;s 5,700 fighters are to gather in disarmament zones, laying down their weapons under UN supervision.

&quot;If that process goes well and without problems, it could change the political balance of power created by the plebiscite and the opposition&#39;s rejection of the accord,&quot; said Kyle Johnson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

But there are still &quot;challenges related not only to the politics but to the implementation on the ground,&quot; he added.

&nbsp;

US pleased&nbsp;

US Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the accord in a statement urging its critics &quot;to continue their principled commitment to peace in the coming implementation phase.&quot;

United Nations and the&nbsp;European Union officials also hailed the deal. The conflict has drawn in various guerrilla forces, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs over the years.

The government is still seeking to salvage talks with a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). Talks were suspended last month before they started when the rebels failed to release a hostage.

(Agencies)

Nobel Peace Prize winner Santos said 'the war is officially over', but a minister said bringing peace about was 'an enormous challenge'

After pushing a revised peace deal with the FARC rebels through Congress, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos got down to a far bigger challenge on Thursday: implementing it. The lower house's unanimous vote in favour of the deal set off a countdown to end a conflict that has burned for over half a century and killed more than 260,000 people. "Today we can say the war has officially ended," Santos said in a speech. "We all have to continue making sacrifices, but I hope we will do so together." Interior minister Juan Fernando Cristo told a news conference that Colombia now faces "an enormous challenge" to implement the accord. Within five days, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, must begin demobilising and surrendering their weapons. Under the deal, the process must be complete within six months. The FARC will relaunch as a political party. The next step, Cristo said, would be to present Congress with an amnesty for FARC members, the most contested part of the accord. Amnesty Santos, who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, said "D-Day begins" on Thursday. The delicate transition to peace will take place amid bitter opposition to the deal, which Santos's rivals say is too soft on the leftist guerrillas. Voters rejected an earlier version of the deal in a referendum last month. That sent peace negotiators back to the drawing board after nearly four years of talks. Rather than risk a second referendum, the government and rebels decided to have the revised deal ratified in Congress. Opponents say the new version includes only token changes. The deal passed unanimously in both houses of Congress, where Santos has a majority. His top opponent, former president Alvaro Uribe, led a walkout by his right-wing party, the Democratic Center. "How is the Congress going to approve what the Colombian people rejected?" Oscar Ivan Zuloaga, a former presidential candidate for Uribe's party, said during the House debate. Uribe and his allies argue the deal grants impunity to rebels guilty of war crimes, giving them seats in Congress rather than sending them to jail. The biggest bone of contention is an agreement for non-custodial sentences for FARC members who admit to their crimes. Under the deal, rebel leaders will be able to hold public office while still serving their sentences. Fragile ceasefire Lawmakers must now approve a series of bills to implement the peace accord, beginning with the amnesty for the guerrillas. "A first set of pardons is currently being prepared," government peace delegate Sergio Jaramillo told the news conference. "Meanwhile, an amnesty law will be submitted to the legislative process." A ceasefire has been in effect since August, shaken by violence in recent weeks. Two guerrillas died in what the authorities described as a clash with the army. A wave of assassinations and attacks has also targeted community leaders in conflict areas. Disarmament The FARC's 5,700 fighters are to gather in disarmament zones, laying down their weapons under UN supervision. "If that process goes well and without problems, it could change the political balance of power created by the plebiscite and the opposition's rejection of the accord," said Kyle Johnson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. But there are still "challenges related not only to the politics but to the implementation on the ground," he added. US pleased US Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the accord in a statement urging its critics "to continue their principled commitment to peace in the coming implementation phase." United Nations and the European Union officials also hailed the deal. The conflict has drawn in various guerrilla forces, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs over the years. The government is still seeking to salvage talks with a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). Talks were suspended last month before they started when the rebels failed to release a hostage. (Agencies)

Colombia embarks on implementing FARC peace deal

Colombia&#39;s Congress approved a new peace deal with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia) rebels late on Wednesday, despite objections from former president and now senator Alvaro Uribe, who said it was still too lenient on the insurgents who have battled the government for 52 years.

The agreement was approved in the lower house by 130-0, a day after the Senate ratified it 75-0. Lawmakers from Uribe&#39;s Democratic Center party left the floors of both houses in protest just before voting began.

The ratification - and signing last week - begins a six-month countdown for the 7,000-strong FARC, which started as a rebellion fighting rural poverty, to abandon weapons and form a political party.

President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed the revised accord last week in a sober ceremony after the first deal was rejected in a national plebiscite.

Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his peace efforts, wants to get the deal implemented as quickly as possible to maintain a fragile ceasefire.

Uribe&#39;s supporters argued the deal offered too many concessions to&nbsp;FARC, and did not serve as a deterrent for other groups involved in crime.

&quot;Let&#39;s not forget what we are doing today, we&#39;re trying to end more than 50 years of war,&quot; government negotiator Sergio Jaramillo said.

The new agreement to end Latin America&#39;s longest insurgency was put together in just over a month after the original pact, which allowed the rebels to hold public office and skip jail, was narrowly and unexpectedly defeated in an October 2 referendum.

While the government says the accord includes most of the proposals put forward by those who rejected it, the new document did not alter those two key provisions. That angered many among Colombia&#39;s largely conservative population, who are also furious that Santos decided to ratify the deal in Congress instead of holding another plebiscite.

The government and FARC worked together in Cuba for four years to negotiate an end to the region&#39;s longest-running conflict that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions in the Andean nation.

An end to the war with FARC is unlikely to end violence in Colombia as the lucrative cocaine business has given rise to criminal gangs and traffickers.

(Reuters)

The agreement was approved in the lower house by 130-0, a day after the Senate ratified it 75-0

Colombia's Congress approved a new peace deal with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia) rebels late on Wednesday, despite objections from former president and now senator Alvaro Uribe, who said it was still too lenient on the insurgents who have battled the government for 52 years. The agreement was approved in the lower house by 130-0, a day after the Senate ratified it 75-0. Lawmakers from Uribe's Democratic Center party left the floors of both houses in protest just before voting began. The ratification - and signing last week - begins a six-month countdown for the 7,000-strong FARC, which started as a rebellion fighting rural poverty, to abandon weapons and form a political party. President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed the revised accord last week in a sober ceremony after the first deal was rejected in a national plebiscite. Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his peace efforts, wants to get the deal implemented as quickly as possible to maintain a fragile ceasefire. Uribe's supporters argued the deal offered too many concessions to FARC, and did not serve as a deterrent for other groups involved in crime. "Let's not forget what we are doing today, we're trying to end more than 50 years of war," government negotiator Sergio Jaramillo said. The new agreement to end Latin America's longest insurgency was put together in just over a month after the original pact, which allowed the rebels to hold public office and skip jail, was narrowly and unexpectedly defeated in an October 2 referendum. While the government says the accord includes most of the proposals put forward by those who rejected it, the new document did not alter those two key provisions. That angered many among Colombia's largely conservative population, who are also furious that Santos decided to ratify the deal in Congress instead of holding another plebiscite. The government and FARC worked together in Cuba for four years to negotiate an end to the region's longest-running conflict that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions in the Andean nation. An end to the war with FARC is unlikely to end violence in Colombia as the lucrative cocaine business has given rise to criminal gangs and traffickers. (Reuters)

New Colombia peace deal approved, hopefully ends 52-year war

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist FARC rebel leader&nbsp;Rodrigo &quot;Timochenko&quot; Londono have signed a revised peace deal to end a 52-year-old insurgency in the country.

The agreement between the government and the rebel group comes amid stiff resistance from opposition political parties who say the deal continues to favour the insurgents.

This is the second time in two months that the Santos-led administration and FARC have signed a peace deal.&nbsp;

The previous accord was rejected by the Colombian public in an October 2 referendum because they felt the deal absolved&nbsp;the FARC rebels of all crimes they have committed in the last half a century.

But this time, the deal will be sent to the Congress and not go through another referendum.

Chances of the deal coming to fruition is high because Santos holds the majority in the Congress.

Both the government and FARC have made efforts in the last two years to end the region&#39;s longest-running conflict that has left more than 220,000 people dead and several millions displaced.

Opposition to the deal

The deal was inked in a low-key ceremony at a Bogota theatre, a striking contrast from the previous occasion.

Supporters of the deal chanted &quot;We did it!&quot; while the two parties signed the accord.

However, the opposition parties in Colombia have condemned&nbsp;the government for going ahead with a deal that is similar to the first one.

The first peace deal was rejected by the public for being too soft on FARC.

The opposition led by former president Alvaro Uribe have also criticised the government for bypassing the public this time. They want the government to hold another referendum.

President Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his efforst to broker a peace deal with FARC, wants the accord to be legislated quickly in order to maintain&nbsp;a fragile bilateral ceasefire.

The expanded and highly complex new 310-page document makes only small modifications to the original text, such as clarifying private property rights and detailing more fully how the rebels would be confined in rural areas for crimes committed during the war.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The accord has been signed nearly two months after the Colombian public rejected the peace agreement in a referendum

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist FARC rebel leader Rodrigo "Timochenko" Londono have signed a revised peace deal to end a 52-year-old insurgency in the country. The agreement between the government and the rebel group comes amid stiff resistance from opposition political parties who say the deal continues to favour the insurgents. This is the second time in two months that the Santos-led administration and FARC have signed a peace deal. The previous accord was rejected by the Colombian public in an October 2 referendum because they felt the deal absolved the FARC rebels of all crimes they have committed in the last half a century. But this time, the deal will be sent to the Congress and not go through another referendum. Chances of the deal coming to fruition is high because Santos holds the majority in the Congress. Both the government and FARC have made efforts in the last two years to end the region's longest-running conflict that has left more than 220,000 people dead and several millions displaced. Opposition to the deal The deal was inked in a low-key ceremony at a Bogota theatre, a striking contrast from the previous occasion. Supporters of the deal chanted "We did it!" while the two parties signed the accord. However, the opposition parties in Colombia have condemned the government for going ahead with a deal that is similar to the first one. The first peace deal was rejected by the public for being too soft on FARC. The opposition led by former president Alvaro Uribe have also criticised the government for bypassing the public this time. They want the government to hold another referendum. President Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his efforst to broker a peace deal with FARC, wants the accord to be legislated quickly in order to maintain a fragile bilateral ceasefire. The expanded and highly complex new 310-page document makes only small modifications to the original text, such as clarifying private property rights and detailing more fully how the rebels would be confined in rural areas for crimes committed during the war. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Colombian government, FARC sign revised peace deal

Six weeks after Colombians shocked the world by rejecting a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, negotiators have come back with a new deal. But, will it work this time?

&quot;Implement this now,&quot; the government&#39;s chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country on Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published.

After four years of talks and a last-ditch return to the drawing board, &quot;there&#39;s really no more room to negotiate,&quot; said De la Calle.

But President Juan Manuel Santos, who won this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, still faces a potentially huge obstacle in the form of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. The right-wing senator led the opposition to the first deal, arguing it was too soft on the Marxist guerrillas. He has yet to give his verdict on the revisions.

Here are some points on how the new deal stacks up against the old one, and whether it stands a better chance of ending a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives.

&nbsp;

New referendum?

The defeat of the original deal in an October 2 referendum defied opinion polls, flew in the face of international backing and jeopardised Santos&#39;s legacy.

Will he risk it all again? That&#39;s unclear. The new deal does not specify how it is to be ratified. That leaves open any number of possibilities, including another referendum or simply a vote in Congress, where Santos has a majority.

&nbsp;

More justice?

Critics attacked the first deal as granting impunity to war criminals. The revisions seek to fend off that claim. But there will still be no jail time for those who confess.

Special courts to try crimes linked to the conflict, and give lenient alternative sentences, originally had no expiration date. Now they will have jurisdiction for 10 years, with possible extensions to 15.

A bill on reduced sentences will be sent to Congress, with a special section on leniency for soldiers and police, a key opposition demand. For the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, crimes such as drug trafficking will only receive amnesty if the perpetrators &quot;did not personally profit&quot;.

&nbsp;

FARC concessions?

The FARC has agreed to publish its assets, a sort of financial statement on the guerrilla enterprise funded by drug trafficking, illegal mining and ransom kidnappings. The money will be used to pay reparations to victims.

The FARC will also list all its members, including allied militias. Rebels involved in drug trafficking are ordered to submit a report on their activities to help police investigate remaining cartels.

&nbsp;

Other changes?

Whereas the original deal was to be written into the constitution, the revised version will simply hold sway for three presidential terms: 12 years. In another change, the government will use both carrots and sticks to tackle coca farming, which has fueled the conflict in the world&#39;s largest cocaine producer.

Farmers will still be encouraged to switch to legal crops, but the government will not end US-backed aerial herbicide spraying, despite dire health warnings.The edits also deleted explicit mention of &quot;gender equality&quot; and special treatment for sexual minorities, after an outcry from conservative religious groups.

&nbsp;

Will it work?

The new 310-page deal revisits all but one of the 57 points that Uribe&#39;s camp had criticised. But the changes may not be sweeping enough for opponents.

And the untouched item is a big one: rebels&#39; right to run for elected office. The FARC will still get 10 automatic seats in Congress from 2018.

&quot;The changes are unlikely to please the opposition,&quot; said Maria Luisa Puig, an analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy. She predicted Santos would skip a potentially fatal second referendum. But that &quot;will raise doubts about (the deal&#39;s) political viability and the implementation process,&quot; she said in a note.

Some experts sounded more optimistic. &quot;There will be criticism, but not enough to block implementation,&quot; said Angelika Rettberg of Los Andes University in Bogota.

(AFP)

'Implement this now,' government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published

Six weeks after Colombians shocked the world by rejecting a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, negotiators have come back with a new deal. But, will it work this time? "Implement this now," the government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country on Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published. After four years of talks and a last-ditch return to the drawing board, "there's really no more room to negotiate," said De la Calle. But President Juan Manuel Santos, who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, still faces a potentially huge obstacle in the form of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. The right-wing senator led the opposition to the first deal, arguing it was too soft on the Marxist guerrillas. He has yet to give his verdict on the revisions. Here are some points on how the new deal stacks up against the old one, and whether it stands a better chance of ending a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives. New referendum? The defeat of the original deal in an October 2 referendum defied opinion polls, flew in the face of international backing and jeopardised Santos's legacy. Will he risk it all again? That's unclear. The new deal does not specify how it is to be ratified. That leaves open any number of possibilities, including another referendum or simply a vote in Congress, where Santos has a majority. More justice? Critics attacked the first deal as granting impunity to war criminals. The revisions seek to fend off that claim. But there will still be no jail time for those who confess. Special courts to try crimes linked to the conflict, and give lenient alternative sentences, originally had no expiration date. Now they will have jurisdiction for 10 years, with possible extensions to 15. A bill on reduced sentences will be sent to Congress, with a special section on leniency for soldiers and police, a key opposition demand. For the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, crimes such as drug trafficking will only receive amnesty if the perpetrators "did not personally profit". FARC concessions? The FARC has agreed to publish its assets, a sort of financial statement on the guerrilla enterprise funded by drug trafficking, illegal mining and ransom kidnappings. The money will be used to pay reparations to victims. The FARC will also list all its members, including allied militias. Rebels involved in drug trafficking are ordered to submit a report on their activities to help police investigate remaining cartels. Other changes? Whereas the original deal was to be written into the constitution, the revised version will simply hold sway for three presidential terms: 12 years. In another change, the government will use both carrots and sticks to tackle coca farming, which has fueled the conflict in the world's largest cocaine producer. Farmers will still be encouraged to switch to legal crops, but the government will not end US-backed aerial herbicide spraying, despite dire health warnings.The edits also deleted explicit mention of "gender equality" and special treatment for sexual minorities, after an outcry from conservative religious groups. Will it work? The new 310-page deal revisits all but one of the 57 points that Uribe's camp had criticised. But the changes may not be sweeping enough for opponents. And the untouched item is a big one: rebels' right to run for elected office. The FARC will still get 10 automatic seats in Congress from 2018. "The changes are unlikely to please the opposition," said Maria Luisa Puig, an analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy. She predicted Santos would skip a potentially fatal second referendum. But that "will raise doubts about (the deal's) political viability and the implementation process," she said in a note. Some experts sounded more optimistic. "There will be criticism, but not enough to block implementation," said Angelika Rettberg of Los Andes University in Bogota. (AFP)

Will Colombia's new peace deal work this time?

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday that a ceasefire with FARC rebels will end on October 31, as both sides scramble to find a solution to the half-century conflict after voters rejected a peace deal.

&quot;I hope we can move forward... to realise the necessary agreement to find a solution to this conflict,&quot; Santos said in a televised address from the presidential palace.

(AFP)&nbsp;

Both the government forces and the FARC rebels scramble to find a solution to the half-century conflict after voters rejected a peace deal

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday that a ceasefire with FARC rebels will end on October 31, as both sides scramble to find a solution to the half-century conflict after voters rejected a peace deal. "I hope we can move forward... to realise the necessary agreement to find a solution to this conflict," Santos said in a televised address from the presidential palace. (AFP)

Colombia ceasefire with FARC to end October 31: Juan Manuel Santos

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos opened a new national dialogue on Monday to seek peace with FARC rebels as both sides scrambled to revive a peace deal to end the half-century conflict.

In a televised address a day after voters rejected the agreement in a referendum, Santos said he had asked the government&#39;s chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle to &quot;begin discussions as soon as possible addressing all the necessary issues to have an agreement and realise the dream of every Colombian to end the war with the FARC.&quot;

De la Calle had earlier offered his resignation, saying he did not want to be &quot;an obstacle to what comes next&quot;.

Monday&#39;s announcement came after Santos, who has staked his legacy on ending the 52-year-old conflict, called an emergency meeting with leaders of the country&#39;s political parties to try to chart a way forward after Sunday&#39;s shock referendum defeat.

As he arrived, a visibly crestfallen Santos said the meeting would seek &quot;common ground and unity&quot;.

&quot;That&#39;s more important now than ever,&quot; he said.

The leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono, meanwhile said in a video from Havana, where the peace talks were held, that the Marxist guerrillas, like the government, remained committed to an ongoing ceasefire.

Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timoleon &quot;Timochenko&quot; Jimenez, said the rebels were prepared to &quot;fix&quot; the rejected deal.

The result &quot;does not mean the battle for peace is lost,&quot; he said.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who had offered a UN team to oversee the disarmament process, said he had &quot;urgently&quot; sent his Colombia envoy to Havana, where the four-year talks have been held, for new consultations.

But the outcome left no clear path to end a conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing.

Opinion polls had showed the &quot;Yes&quot; camp well ahead, and negotiators had said there was no Plan B in the event of a &quot;No&quot; vote.

The peace deal had been hailed as historic from the time it was concluded on August 24 to the moment it was signed last week in the presence of Ban and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

But many Colombians resented the blood shed by the Marxist guerrillas and the lenient punishment the deal meted out for their crimes.

Voters rejected the agreement by a razor-thin margin: 50.21 per cent for the &quot;No&quot; camp to 49.78 per cent for &quot;Yes.&quot;

Voter turnout was low, at just over 37 per cent.

Although a referendum was not required to adopt the deal, Santos insisted on holding one to ensure its legitimacy.

- Hatred of the FARC -

Santos&#39;s top political rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, led the &quot;No&quot; campaign.

His right-wing party, the Democratic Center, was notably absent from the meeting Santos held at the presidential palace to assess options following the referendum.

Commentators compared the result&#39;s effect to June&#39;s surprise &quot;Brexit&quot; vote for Britain to leave the European Union.

Forecasts apparently miscalculated Colombians&#39; desire to punish the FARC.

The accord called for the FARC&#39;s 5,765 rebels to disarm and the group to become a political party with guaranteed seats in Congress.

That did not sit well with some Colombians who remember the FARC for massacring civilians, seizing hostages and sowing terror in a multi-sided conflict that has seen atrocities committed all around.

&quot;How should we respond to the damage they&#39;ve done to the nation? That sums it all up,&quot; said political analyst Jorge Restrepo, head of Bogota&#39;s Conflict Analysis Resource Center.

- Nobel hopes dashed -

Santos and Londono had been tipped as top contenders for this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize.

But that prospect all but vanished with the referendum defeat, experts said.

&quot;The Colombian peace treaty or anybody associated with it simply is not a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize this year,&quot; said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Oslo&#39;s Peace Research Institute.

The accord has now &quot;lost legitimacy&quot; to the point that it &quot;is dead and cannot be implemented&quot;, said Maria Luisa Puig of the Eurasia Group consultancy.

The FARC launched its guerrilla war in 1964 after the army crushed a peasant uprising.

Over the years, the conflict has drawn in several leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.

(AFP)

President Santos said he has asked the government's chief negotiator 'to begin discussions as soon as possible... to end war with FARC'

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos opened a new national dialogue on Monday to seek peace with FARC rebels as both sides scrambled to revive a peace deal to end the half-century conflict. In a televised address a day after voters rejected the agreement in a referendum, Santos said he had asked the government's chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle to "begin discussions as soon as possible addressing all the necessary issues to have an agreement and realise the dream of every Colombian to end the war with the FARC." De la Calle had earlier offered his resignation, saying he did not want to be "an obstacle to what comes next". Monday's announcement came after Santos, who has staked his legacy on ending the 52-year-old conflict, called an emergency meeting with leaders of the country's political parties to try to chart a way forward after Sunday's shock referendum defeat. As he arrived, a visibly crestfallen Santos said the meeting would seek "common ground and unity". "That's more important now than ever," he said. The leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono, meanwhile said in a video from Havana, where the peace talks were held, that the Marxist guerrillas, like the government, remained committed to an ongoing ceasefire. Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez, said the rebels were prepared to "fix" the rejected deal. The result "does not mean the battle for peace is lost," he said. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who had offered a UN team to oversee the disarmament process, said he had "urgently" sent his Colombia envoy to Havana, where the four-year talks have been held, for new consultations. But the outcome left no clear path to end a conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing. Opinion polls had showed the "Yes" camp well ahead, and negotiators had said there was no Plan B in the event of a "No" vote. The peace deal had been hailed as historic from the time it was concluded on August 24 to the moment it was signed last week in the presence of Ban and US Secretary of State John Kerry. But many Colombians resented the blood shed by the Marxist guerrillas and the lenient punishment the deal meted out for their crimes. Voters rejected the agreement by a razor-thin margin: 50.21 per cent for the "No" camp to 49.78 per cent for "Yes." Voter turnout was low, at just over 37 per cent. Although a referendum was not required to adopt the deal, Santos insisted on holding one to ensure its legitimacy. - Hatred of the FARC - Santos's top political rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, led the "No" campaign. His right-wing party, the Democratic Center, was notably absent from the meeting Santos held at the presidential palace to assess options following the referendum. Commentators compared the result's effect to June's surprise "Brexit" vote for Britain to leave the European Union. Forecasts apparently miscalculated Colombians' desire to punish the FARC. The accord called for the FARC's 5,765 rebels to disarm and the group to become a political party with guaranteed seats in Congress. That did not sit well with some Colombians who remember the FARC for massacring civilians, seizing hostages and sowing terror in a multi-sided conflict that has seen atrocities committed all around. "How should we respond to the damage they've done to the nation? That sums it all up," said political analyst Jorge Restrepo, head of Bogota's Conflict Analysis Resource Center. - Nobel hopes dashed - Santos and Londono had been tipped as top contenders for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. But that prospect all but vanished with the referendum defeat, experts said. "The Colombian peace treaty or anybody associated with it simply is not a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize this year," said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Oslo's Peace Research Institute. The accord has now "lost legitimacy" to the point that it "is dead and cannot be implemented", said Maria Luisa Puig of the Eurasia Group consultancy. The FARC launched its guerrilla war in 1964 after the army crushed a peasant uprising. Over the years, the conflict has drawn in several leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs. (AFP)

Colombian president, FARC rebels scramble to save peace deal

Colombians say they are sick of their country&#39;s 52-year civil war. So why did a thin majority of voters reject their biggest chance yet for peace?

Forecasts ahead of Sunday&#39;s surprise referendum result misjudged how divided Colombians are over how to settle the conflict with the FARC rebels.

&quot;I voted &#39;Yes&#39; to peace by voting &#39;No&#39; to the accord,&quot; said Carlos Gonzalez, a 19-year-old student.

Here are four things Colombians said &#39;No&#39; to.

No to &#39;impunity&#39;

Colombian authorities estimate the conflict has left 260,000 people dead, 45,000 missing and nearly seven million displaced.

The accord offered an amnesty for some FARC members, though not for the worst crimes such as massacres, torture and rape.

It offered reduced sentences for some FARC members who confess their crimes.

The FARC apologised to its victims, some of whom met with its members for emotional reconciliations.

But for Monica Gonzalez, 36, the accord was too soft on the FARC, which killed her grandmother in 2011.

&quot;I agree with second chances, but not with impunity,&quot; she said as she celebrated the result in northern Bogota on Sunday night.

No to &#39;communism&#39;

The FARC formed in 1964 to fight for control of land and a communist system of government, after state forces crushed a rural uprising.

The peace accord, negotiated in Cuba, aimed to convert the FARC into a civil political group, with temporary seats in Congress.

That was too much for many Colombians, who reject the FARC on ideological as well as moral grounds.

The leader of the &#39;No&#39; camp, former president Alvaro Uribe, said the accord would drive the country towards &quot;Castro-Chavism&quot;, a reference to leftist leaders in Cuba and Venezuela.

&quot;Democracy has been saved&quot; by Sunday&#39;s result, said Jesus Vivas, a 58-year-old pensioner, celebrating on Sunday.

&quot;The future of my family and my children has been saved. We have said &#39;No&#39; to communism.&quot;

No to Santos

Colombia&#39;s President Juan Manuel Santos acted triumphantly when he signed the peace accord with the FARC on September 26. But his approval rating has dipped nearly as low as 20 per cent this year.

Opponents said they were in favour of peace but voiced distaste at the president and his determination to be the one to end the war.

&quot;The drive for reconciliation continues, but according to the principles of a healthy society,&quot; said Maria Fernanda Cabal, an outspoken congresswoman.

&quot;Not giving the country away to bandits and the vanity of Santos.&quot;

No to voting?

Turnout in Sunday&#39;s vote was extremely low at 37 percent.

Authorities earlier said heavy rain caused some disruption to voting as Hurricane Matthew passed over the Caribbean.

&quot;We do not know what will happen now,&quot; said Jorge Cifuentes, 55, one of the Yes supporters who had gathered to celebrate in Bogota on Sunday night but ended up cast into gloom.

&quot;But it is clear that the conditions granted to the FARC had a big effect, and the low turnout too.&quot; 
&nbsp;

(AFP)

They were uncomfortable with the idea of letting the rebels go scot-free

Colombians say they are sick of their country's 52-year civil war. So why did a thin majority of voters reject their biggest chance yet for peace? Forecasts ahead of Sunday's surprise referendum result misjudged how divided Colombians are over how to settle the conflict with the FARC rebels. "I voted 'Yes' to peace by voting 'No' to the accord," said Carlos Gonzalez, a 19-year-old student. Here are four things Colombians said 'No' to. No to 'impunity' Colombian authorities estimate the conflict has left 260,000 people dead, 45,000 missing and nearly seven million displaced. The accord offered an amnesty for some FARC members, though not for the worst crimes such as massacres, torture and rape. It offered reduced sentences for some FARC members who confess their crimes. The FARC apologised to its victims, some of whom met with its members for emotional reconciliations. But for Monica Gonzalez, 36, the accord was too soft on the FARC, which killed her grandmother in 2011. "I agree with second chances, but not with impunity," she said as she celebrated the result in northern Bogota on Sunday night. No to 'communism' The FARC formed in 1964 to fight for control of land and a communist system of government, after state forces crushed a rural uprising. The peace accord, negotiated in Cuba, aimed to convert the FARC into a civil political group, with temporary seats in Congress. That was too much for many Colombians, who reject the FARC on ideological as well as moral grounds. The leader of the 'No' camp, former president Alvaro Uribe, said the accord would drive the country towards "Castro-Chavism", a reference to leftist leaders in Cuba and Venezuela. "Democracy has been saved" by Sunday's result, said Jesus Vivas, a 58-year-old pensioner, celebrating on Sunday. "The future of my family and my children has been saved. We have said 'No' to communism." No to Santos Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos acted triumphantly when he signed the peace accord with the FARC on September 26. But his approval rating has dipped nearly as low as 20 per cent this year. Opponents said they were in favour of peace but voiced distaste at the president and his determination to be the one to end the war. "The drive for reconciliation continues, but according to the principles of a healthy society," said Maria Fernanda Cabal, an outspoken congresswoman. "Not giving the country away to bandits and the vanity of Santos." No to voting? Turnout in Sunday's vote was extremely low at 37 percent. Authorities earlier said heavy rain caused some disruption to voting as Hurricane Matthew passed over the Caribbean. "We do not know what will happen now," said Jorge Cifuentes, 55, one of the Yes supporters who had gathered to celebrate in Bogota on Sunday night but ended up cast into gloom. "But it is clear that the conditions granted to the FARC had a big effect, and the low turnout too." (AFP)

Why Colombians said no to peace deal

A Colombian high court on Monday ruled in favor of using a plebiscite to approve a peace deal being negotiated with Marxist&nbsp;FARC&nbsp;rebels that seeks to end more than five decades of war.

Negotiators for President Juan Manuel Santos and leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have said they will abide by a popular vote that would accept or reject peace agreements made over almost four years of talks.

A final peace accord could be signed in a question of weeks and the vote held by year-end.

The constitutional court decision would allow the accords to be approved with 13 per cent, or 4.4 million, of the electorate and would be a response to one question. Some 33 million of Colombia&#39;s almost 49 million population are eligible to vote.

Santos&#39;s decision to ask Colombians to respond to one question, with a yes or no answer, drew considerable criticism, especially from former president and now opposition Senator Alvaro Uribe, who argued that it does not allow voters to reject specific aspects of the peace agreement.

The government and&nbsp;FARC&nbsp;have been hammering out accords in Havana on agricultural reform,&nbsp;FARC&nbsp;participation in politics and dismantling the illegal drugs trade among other issues that Santos hopes will allow the rebels to hand in their weapons. 
 
(Reuters)

The peace accord, once signed, will end more than five decades of war between the Colombian government and the armed revolutionary rebels

A Colombian high court on Monday ruled in favor of using a plebiscite to approve a peace deal being negotiated with Marxist FARC rebels that seeks to end more than five decades of war. Negotiators for President Juan Manuel Santos and leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have said they will abide by a popular vote that would accept or reject peace agreements made over almost four years of talks. A final peace accord could be signed in a question of weeks and the vote held by year-end. The constitutional court decision would allow the accords to be approved with 13 per cent, or 4.4 million, of the electorate and would be a response to one question. Some 33 million of Colombia's almost 49 million population are eligible to vote. Santos's decision to ask Colombians to respond to one question, with a yes or no answer, drew considerable criticism, especially from former president and now opposition Senator Alvaro Uribe, who argued that it does not allow voters to reject specific aspects of the peace agreement. The government and FARC have been hammering out accords in Havana on agricultural reform, FARC participation in politics and dismantling the illegal drugs trade among other issues that Santos hopes will allow the rebels to hand in their weapons. (Reuters)

Colombia high court approves plebiscite for peace deal with FARC

Colombians are divided on a potential peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an Ipsos survey showed on Sunday, amid skepticism about political participation by the guerrillas. 
 
The government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC rebels have been in peace talks for nearly four years, and ten days ago signed a historic ceasefire deal considered the penultimate step to a final accord. Santos has promised that any deal would have to be approved by Colombians in a referendum. 
 
A poll by Ipsos showed that 36 per cent of Colombians would vote in favour of a deal&nbsp;while 25 per cent would vote against and 36 per cent would abstain. Three per cent were undecided. 
 
Fifty six per cent had a favourable view of the bilateral ceasefire agreement but 52 per cent said they were pessimistic that a final deal would be reached, the poll showed. 
 
Seventy one per cent said they were opposed to FARC leaders running for office. Under a partial deal at the talks FARC leaders convicted of crimes against humanity will have to serve alternative punishments including clearing land mines in order to be eligible for political participation. 
 
One thousand people were interviewed for the survey, which had a 3.1 per cent margin of error. 
 
(Reuters)

The poll showed that 36 per cent would vote in favour of a deal?while 25 per cent would vote against and 36 per cent would abstain

Colombians are divided on a potential peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an Ipsos survey showed on Sunday, amid skepticism about political participation by the guerrillas. The government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC rebels have been in peace talks for nearly four years, and ten days ago signed a historic ceasefire deal considered the penultimate step to a final accord. Santos has promised that any deal would have to be approved by Colombians in a referendum. A poll by Ipsos showed that 36 per cent of Colombians would vote in favour of a deal while 25 per cent would vote against and 36 per cent would abstain. Three per cent were undecided. Fifty six per cent had a favourable view of the bilateral ceasefire agreement but 52 per cent said they were pessimistic that a final deal would be reached, the poll showed. Seventy one per cent said they were opposed to FARC leaders running for office. Under a partial deal at the talks FARC leaders convicted of crimes against humanity will have to serve alternative punishments including clearing land mines in order to be eligible for political participation. One thousand people were interviewed for the survey, which had a 3.1 per cent margin of error. (Reuters)

Colombia divided on peace deal between government and FARC rebels: survey