Marxist Guerrillas realise futility of insurgency
The recent announcement of the final peace accord by the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos between his Government and the country's long surviving leftist guerrilla group — the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has put an end to the 52 years of bloodshed in the South American country. The peace talk that began in Havana, the capital city of Cuba, four years back, resulting into the laying down of arms by the revolutionaries has been seen as a historic development in the recent political history of Colombia.
Though the final peace agreement will be signed in September 26 after the rebels have their last gathering to ratify the peace plan in mid-September, yet the road ahead for Sanos will be a thorny one when it comes to implementing the same. First of all, the former hard-line President Alvaro Uribe who launched a tough battle against the militants from 2002-2010 and decimated them to a considerable extent is up in arms against Santos for providing amnesty to the rebels. He is arguing that the insurgent should be jailed who committed war crimes and bar them from holding public offices in future.
Second, as the Santos Government is holding a national referendum which is likely on October 2 for endorsing the agreement, campaigning for a no vote by Uribe may grossly complicate the peace process. Third, the FARC will surrender their arms within six months from the date of signing the accord. In return, the rebels will get a minimum of 10 congressional seats — five in the lower House and five in the Senate for two legislative terms. Besides, 16 lower House seats will be created for grass-root activists in the areas traditionally ignored by the Government wherein general political parties will be banned from contesting with the. However, both these arrangements are transitory and will come to an end in 2026. But then what will happen, if the rebels fail to merge with the Colombian civil society beyond 2026IJ
Currently, the FARC leader Rodrigo londono-Echeverry, better known as Timochenko, who is hoping that his comrades will get a fair deal from the establishment in Bogota, may get back to violent struggle if the Government shirks on its commitments to protecting them. As the ordinary Colombians despise the guerrillas due to their involvement in drug trafficking and kidnappings, ensuring amnesty to the latter may raise public pressure on the Government. However, the peacemakers asking the Pope and the UN Secretary-General to oversee the peace process may bolster its durability. Bogota must seize this opportunity. Failing to endorse the peace deal in referendum will pose a serious threat to the Santos Government once again. Colombians have an opportunity to end one of the world's dirtiest and longest-running Marxist conflicts. Say no to the ‘la Violencia', once and for all.