FARC starts demobilization of child soldiers

FARC approves peace accord ahead of Colombia's referendum

The leftist rebels have given their unanimous support for a peace deal that would end the 50-year conflict. FARC have set their sights on transforming into a new political party after a referendum on the accord.

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Colombia's FARC rebel group has handed over eight child soldiers to an international humanitarian body as part of a peace deal reached with the government last month.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Friday announced that the rebel group had unanimously approved a peace deal with the government, a week before Colombians vote in a referendum to accept the accord.
"Peace is the most beautiful of victories," said FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, at the rebel group's congress on the southeastern Yari Plains.
"We yearn that no Colombians will ever again have to take up arms to make their voices heard and their demands felt, as has been required of us," he added.
Under the agreement, FARC will transform into a political party, receiving 10 unelected seats in Colombia's parliament until 2026. Although the leftist rebels have yet to outline their policies, they are expected to base their platform on Marxist ideals.

From the Savannas of Yarí.
FARC-EP ratifies Peaces Agreements and shows the world its internal unity. pic.twitter.com/1bWBRvJWwI

— FARC International (@FARC_EPeace) September 24, 2016

"Our political proposals will have to come from the suggestions of our base," FARC secretariat member Pastor Alape told the Reuters news agency at the group's congress.
"We started our political efforts clandestinely and now we aspire, legally, to open our initiatives, together with all sectors of society, to concretely cultivate the political space we are given," Alape added.
While FARC's upcoming political party, which will be formed under a new name, are likely to find a support base among poor farmers, they will face difficulties expanding their constituency in cities, where Colombians are wary of the rebel group.

• Latin America's longest armed conflict comes to an end

  How the insurgency started

  In 1948, the assassination of populist leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan sparked political chaos in Colombia known as "the violence." Tens of thousands died and peasant groups joined with communists to arm themselves. Later in 1964, a military attack on the insurgency's main encampment led to the creation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC.
  

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Ending a bloody conflict
In 1964, FARC launched an insurgency in response to the Colombian government's brutal repression of a peasant uprising.
Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and some 50,000 disappeared in the conflict, which drew in other leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and later drug gangs.
It also forced nearly 7 million people to flee their homes to fighting between FARC, government forces and their allies.
The peace accord, which is set to bring an end to Latin America's longest-running conflict, covers justice, reparations for victims, land reform, disarmament and monitoring.
It also offers amnesty for "political crimes," although the worst offenders, those who committed torture, rape and massacres, will be put on trial, facing a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, penalties will be reduced for those who confess to their crimes.

 

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Colombia: Victims of civil war | DW News

ls/jlw (Reuters, AFP)