Why did Colombia reject the FARC peace deal?
The news that Colombians have narrowly rejected a peace deal which ended 52 years of conflict in the country seems, to outsiders, extraordinary.
Much like the Brexit vote seemed unfathomable to many outside the United Kingdom, the rest of the world is wondering why anyone would vote against peace after more than half a century of fighting.
Voters were asked to approve a deal under which FARC’s fighters would have disarmed and become a legal political party. The agreement was rejected by 50.2% of voters, a difference of around 50,000 votes out of 13 million.
So who are FARC, why was the peace deal rejected and, most important of all, what happens next?
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC is the acronym in Spanish) was founded in 1964 as the armed wing of the Communist Party. The founders were mainly small farmers and rural workers who wanted to fight against the stark levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. Inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, they demanded more rights and control over the land.
Human rights groups have often accused FARC of forcibly recruiting poor farmers and children. The group says that everyone who joined them did so voluntarily.
FARC fighters have attacked police stations and military posts as well as oil pipelines, electricity pylons and bridges. But many of their victims have been civilians and thousands of people have been kidnapped for ransom.
Analysts think the group are among the richest rebel movements in the world. Colombia is one of the main producers of cocaine and the rebels earn a large part of their income from drug trafficking or levying “taxes” on those who do.
The group has been hit hard by the Colombian security forces in recent years. The army and police received millions of dollars in funding and training from the US government, much of which they invested in fighting the rebels.
Many of FARC’s top leaders were killed or have died within the past decade. The security forces now estimate that there are between 6,000 and 7,000 active guerillas and another 8,500 civilians who make up the group’s support network.
The peace deal finally came after almost four years of formal talks and another two of secret negotiations which preceded them.
The peace agreement had the support of many international figures such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, but within Colombia it has been much more controversial. Those against the deal included former President Alvaro Uribe.
Opponents of the deal have accused those who back it of being in the pay of the Cuban and Venezuelan governments and fear it could open the door to radical left-wing policies.
Many Colombians were angered by what they saw as insufficient punishment for those who perpetrated serious crimes. It is estimated that 220,000 were killed in the 52-year conflict which displaced as many as 5 million people.
As part of the peace deal, a special legal framework had been created to try those who committed crimes during the armed conflict, including FARC fighters, government soldiers and members of right-wing paramilitary groups. Those who confess to crimes would not serve prison sentences but would take part in acts of “reparation”, including clearing landmines, repairing damaged infrastructure and helping victims.
Those opposed to the deal say the rebels would be “getting away with murder”.
President Juan Manuel Santos argued that “perfect justice” would not allow peace and that victims will receive reparation. But pressure group Human Rights Watch says the special legal framework goes too far and the deal constitutes a “surrender of justice”.
It is unclear exactly what comes next. President Santos has said a ceasefire will remain in place and negotiations will continue, while his counterpart, FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri, agreed that the referendum result would not sway the former rebels from the path of peace.
Following the “no” vote, former president Alvaro Uribe insisted that he is not opposed to peace but that he wants to renegotiate parts of the agreement to include provisions for rebel leaders to serve time in prison and to pay compensation to victims.
While the vote is certainly a blow to the Colombian government, the fact that both sides remain committed to peace suggests that there is scope for further negotiation. It is a difficult balancing act, certainly, but for any deal to endure, all sides must now come together to find ways to address the polarization within the country and build broader support among the Colombian people.
Have you read?
Peace is in sight for Colombia, but not reconciliation
Fighting extremism: lessons from Colombia’s frontlines
Securing Peace in Colombia: view session
Originally published at www.weforum.org.
