Colombia’s peace negotiations attempt to dismantle a 50-year conflict

The peace negotiations between the government and the guerrilla forces are seen by a large part of the Colombian public as a good opportunity to seal a deal. 

Many believe that the hour has come and that the main actors in the conflict will not let this opportunity escape. 

The reality, however, is much more complicated.

The government of Juan Manuel Santos presented the “Agreement for the termination of the conflict and the construction of a stable and durable peace,” signed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), based on the dialogue between both parties since February in Havana, Cuba. 

News of the agreement was met with signs of hope in Colombia.

Representatives from the government and the FARC signed a joint communiqué in Oslo that included accords for “the public installation of a dialogue group charged with developing a general accord for the end of the conflict” with the first topic of discussion involving “integral agricultural development,” beginning on nov. 15 in Havana.

Contrary to what happened before, this time a large part of the population has faith that the negotiations will succeed. 

A survey conducted by Rcn Televisión demonstrated that 77 percent of Colombians support negotiations and 54 percent are optimistic that they will lead to definitive agreements.

However, former President Alvaro Uribe, a spokesman for landowners and according to many analysts, paramilitary groups, expressed from the first moment his dissatisfaction with the peace negotiations, calling for the annihilation of the guerrillas.

“Peace with impunity is a flower that lasts one day and a bad example for a culture that respects the law,” said Uribe.

Still fresh in the country’s memory are the failed peace negotiations between 1.998 and 2.002, which included a demilitarized zone (DMZ) of 45,000 square kilometers in the departments of Meta and Caquetá. 

After 40 months of discussions, including public hearings in which 22,000 people were directly involved, the peace process collapsed and the war continued.

In fact, none of the opposing sides believed peace was possible. 

The Farc used the break in hostilities to build its strength and improve relations with the Colombian people. 

The military used it to “reverse the army’s operational failures,” since they went into peace negotiations after several tactical defeats at the hands of the guerrillas, and for acquiring aerial technology to neutralize opposing forces. 

During that period, under the governments of Andrés Pastrana and Bill Clinton, the foundations of Plan Colombia were established.