Colombians Narrowly Reject Peace Deal between Government and FARC

Polling precinct in Viotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia ( photo: Lois Mastrangelo)

 

Colombians have just voted to reject the long negotiated peace deal that was seen as the end to an over 50-year war.  Delegates with the US human rights organization Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ) who produced a live blog from on the ground in Colombia expressed devastation after having worked with Colombian human rights and land defenders for years.  AFGJ told The Nation Report that this result may be the direct result of former president Alvaro Uribe’s campaign against the Peace Accords that cast the vote as one mainly against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  Uribe is said by peace activists to have ignored the actual content of the Peace Accords on topics such as agrarian reform and guarantees for victims of the conflict.

Members of the FARC pose with two Coloradans during Peace Accord Negotiations in 2015 during a delegation led by the Alliance for Global Justice.

Members of the FARC pose with two Coloradans during Peace Accord negotiations in Havana, Cuba in 2015 during a delegation led by the Alliance for Global Justice.  photo:  The Nation Report

James Jordan, National Co-coordinator with AFGJ who is leading the delegation and has led many similar delegations said earlier today, “When we went down to the [Tolima] village center we saw around 20 soldiers coming down the road. Most left but a few are stationed here at the polling place. We greeted them. Because of the conflict in this area, which is pronounced, we worry about this being an intimidating presence. However, they pitched in and helped set up the polling place and even put up a peace flag. Hopefully this is a sign of a new age in Colombia.”  But after the election results, Jordan expressed his devastation, “I don’t even know how I can go back to work on Monday.”  Jordan has worked closely with groups negotiating the Peace Accords as they took place in Havana, Cuba for close to four years.  In February of 2015, he led a rally outside of the Florence, Colorado SUPERMAX prison to call for the release of FARC revolutionary Simon Trinidad who supporters of the peace deal said has been imprisoned on false charges.  FARC negotiators had maintained that Trinidad was integral to achieving peace and for developing the Peace Accord.

Natali Segovia, a delegate with the AFGJ delegation said, “The mood is somber here in La Guajira where the ‘yes’ vote won.  Colombia enters into a state of limbo and uncertainty tomorrow. The concern is now for the social organizations, human rights defenders, victims and displaced communities including rural workers, indigenous and Afro-Colombians that supported the Peace Accords.  International solidarity with Colombia will be even more important moving forward.  As one human rights defender said to me, ‘We are frustrated that the Colombian people would prefer a state of war to peace, but this is also part of the democratic process.  As organizations committed to social justice, we will continue working towards a country in peace.”

Below is shown the vote as reported by the Public Registry  (49.76% to 50.23%).  The red area represents the geographical location from where those rejecting the referendum originated and the green areas voted in favor.  The majority of the no votes are concentrated in the center of the country, including Antioquia, historically governed by ex-President Uribe, who has actively campaigned against the Peace Accords:

Green areas indicate “Yes,” while Orange areas voted “No” on the October 2nd Peace Accord vote

Jordan commented after the announcement of the failure of the vote, “But we know with ongoing and even increasing attacks on human rights defenders, environmentalists, indigenous, the political opposition, that the need for international solidarity will continue.”

The Nation Report will continue to update.

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