{"id":29324,"date":"2016-09-27T03:23:32","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T01:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justiceinfo.net\/29324-colombia-farc-rebels-sign-historic-peace-deal.html"},"modified":"2016-09-27T03:23:32","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T01:23:32","slug":"colombia-farc-rebels-sign-historic-peace-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justiceinfo.net\/en\/29324-colombia-farc-rebels-sign-historic-peace-deal.html","title":{"rendered":"Colombia, FARC rebels sign historic peace deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force signed a historic peace accord with the government Monday and apologized to the countless victims of the country's half-century civil war.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In an emotional open-air ceremony, President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the communist rebels into the political sphere after signing the accord with FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias Timoleon \"Timochenko\" Jimenez.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dressed in white, the former mortal enemies signed and shook hands, smiling before an audience of international dignitaries, drawing loud cheers.<\/p>\n

The ceremony in the Caribbean coast city of Cartagena followed a four-year process to end the last major armed conflict in the Americas. The accord remains to be ratified by referendum in a week.<\/p>\n

\"We are being reborn to launch a new era of reconciliation and of building peace,\" Timochenko said.<\/p>\n

\"In the name of the FARC, I sincerely apologize to all the victims of the conflict for any pain we may have caused during this war.\"<\/p>\n

Colombian authorities estimate the territorial and ideological conflict has killed 260,000 people, left 45,000 missing and uprooted 6.9 million.<\/p>\n

\"Let no one doubt that we are moving towards politics without weapons. Let us all prepare to disarm hearts and minds,\" Timochenko said.<\/p>\n

Santos then stepped up to the podium and addressed a message to the thousands of FARC fighters preparing to disarm in their jungle camps.<\/p>\n

\"When you begin your return to society... as head of state of the homeland that we all love, I welcome you to democracy,\" he said.<\/p>\n

\"Swapping bullets for votes and weapons for ideas is the bravest and most intelligent decision that any rebel group could take.\"<\/p>\n

The 2,500 guests at the signing included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.<\/p>\n

An array of Latin American heads of state, including Cuban President Raul Castro, sat near the signatories on stage.<\/p>\n

- FARC's political future -<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The FARC launched its guerrilla war on the Colombian government in 1964, after a peasant uprising that was crushed by the army.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, the conflict drew in several leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.<\/p>\n

Under the deal, the FARC is now to relaunch as a political party. Timochenko, 57, is expected to remain its leader.<\/p>\n

At a remote jungle camp in El Diamante, western Colombia, FARC fighter David Preciado celebrated the accord by playing football with his comrades.<\/p>\n

\"The government did not defeat us, and we did not defeat them. Our 52 years of war were not in vain,\" he told AFP.<\/p>\n

\"We are aware that we have to move forward together, united... to finally achieve victory, giving power to the people by political means.\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0- Amnesty -<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The rebels came to the negotiating table after being weakened by an army offensive led by Santos, 65, when he was defense minister.<\/p>\n

After he became president, four years of talks hosted by Cuba yielded a final, 300-page accord last month.<\/p>\n

It grants an amnesty for \"political crimes\" committed during the conflict, but not for the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.<\/p>\n

The FARC's fighters are to leave their mountain and jungle hideouts and disarm in a UN-supervised process.<\/p>\n

Colombian authorities estimate their number at more than 7,000.<\/p>\n

\u00a0- No to 'terrorists' -<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Recent polls show the \"Yes\" camp in the lead to ratify the accord in the referendum on October 2.<\/p>\n

Some Colombians resent the concessions made to the FARC, however.<\/p>\n

Former president Alvaro Uribe led a demonstration in protest at the signing on Monday.<\/p>\n

\"The Americans would not grant impunity to Osama Bin Laden. The French would not grant impunity to (Islamist militants) ISIS,\" he said.<\/p>\n

\"Why should we Colombians grant total impunity to terrorists?\"<\/p>\n

Santos told the gathering at the signing ceremony: \"I prefer an imperfect accord that saves lives to a perfect war that keeps sowing death and pain.\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0- FARC off blacklist -<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The European Union suspended the FARC from its list of terrorist groups, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The government has yet to begin planned peace talks with another, smaller leftist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), saying it must first stop kidnappings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force signed a historic peace accord with the government Monday and apologized to the countless victims of the country's half-century civil war. 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