Sunday, November 13, 2016

FARC Part Deux

From the BBC:
"Colombia peace deal: Government and Farc reach new agreement"

The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have announced a new peace agreement, six weeks after the original deal was rejected in a popular vote. The two sides, which have been holding talks in Cuba for four years, said the revised plan incorporated proposals from the opposition and others groups. The initial deal had been deemed to be too favourable to the left-wing rebels. The new agreement is not expected to be put to another popular vote, but rather submitted to Congress.  "We have reached a new final agreement to end the armed conflict, which incorporates changes, clarifications and some new contributions from various social groups," the two sides said in a statement.  It was read by diplomats from Cuba and Norway, the mediating countries, in the Cuban capital, Havana. The statement did not give details of the revised agreement but Colombia's lead negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, said it "resolves many criticisms" of the previous deal.  One new requirement was for the Farc to draw up a complete list of its assets, to be used for victim compensation, he added. Further details are expected to be released over the weekend.  However the leader of the "No" campaign, former President Alvaro Uribe, said the new proposals did not go far enough.  The previous deal was rejected by 50.2% of voters in a vote held on 2 October.  Many objected to the lenient sentences given to fighters who confessed to crimes. Some would have avoided serving any time in conventional prisons. Those who opposed the deal also balked at the government's plan to pay demobilised Farc rebels a monthly stipend while offering those wanting to start a business financial help.



^ I am all for the cease-fire, but think it should go back to a popular vote of the Colombian people. The Colombian President won the Nobel Peace Prize and should respect the will of the Colombian people. By not holding a vote on this new agreement he is really saying that the Colombian people do not matter in a decades-long war that many there have suffered from. ^


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37965392

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