NOTE: I originally created this post in Spanish before the plebiscite of October second. Despite of the results, I want to share the same post in English version. October 17th, 2016
Third point of the Peace Agreement, Myths and Realities
What is the end of the conflict?
What does the end of this war actually mean? It is not only about an agreement, but it is also the beginning of a forgiveness process for all Colombians, and the start of a reduction of deaths caused by the armed conflict.
What does it mean: politics without guns?
It is about the commitment of the FARC to renounce attacks, extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and of course the ceasefire. These weapons will be collected within a maximum period of 180 days by the United Nations Organization, which has the appropriate expertise to monitor the Final and Bilateral Cease of fire and Hostilities.
What will happen to the ex-combatants?
Twenty-two zones (“zonas veredales”) and six camps have been arranged, and they will be protected by the government. The FARC has accepted that the police and the army, who were their former opponents, are now their safety mechanism.
It is true that many of us are concerned about the reintegration of these people into our society, and even some people affirm that they would not provide jobs for ex-combatants. However, thousands of FARC members are going to demobilize and social action plans are needed in the long-term for the successor governments.
First Myth: With the presence of the FARC in the government our country is going to become "communist, Chavista, leftist, a dictatorship, etc..."
The agreement guarantees a minimum representation of five Senators and five House Representatives for the next two electoral terms. Do you know what the percentage of representation of the FARC in the Senate would be? It would be approximately 5 percent of all senators. This figure may provide greater clarity to eradicate these irrational myths. If the people’s biggest concern is the political future of the country, citizens have to make sure they are making the best choice for the next presidential elections in 2018.
Second Myth: “Las FARC is being rewarded after all the harm they have done."
The granting of ten spots in the government does not represent a prize, but a fundamental point that had to be implemented as part of the negotiation. Negotiations must be reciprocal other wise there would be no negotiation whatsoever.
To conclude, I hope my fellow Colombians remember that the search for escaping from suffering and the struggle for survival are part of human nature. The majority of these ex-combatants (with obvious exceptions) are people who were forced to belong to this group since their childhood, or they were victims of violence themselves and decided to "take justice into their own hands."
Violence is a vicious cycle that only ends when one or two of the parties decide to leave it. On October second, Colombians will vote to support or reject that the two parties leave this circle. The Yes (“Si”) could avoid at least one further death of a friend, a relative, or simply of an innocent child.
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