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Peace, Colombia's Most Beautiful Battle: Inside FARC Rebel Camp
IN PICTURES: A look inside a mountain camp of the FARC guerrilla rebels as the movement prepares to lay down its arms once and for all.

Following a 52-year civil war that claimed over 220,000 lives and displaced more than 6.3 million people, the military camps of the Colombian rebels known by their Spanish acronym, FARC, are in their twilight, following last week's historic peace accords between the left-wing insurgent army and the government. 

Government and FARC negotiators unveiled the final peace agreement on Aug. 24 in Havana, Cuba, where negotiations have been underway for nearly four years. The landmark agreement provides for the laying down of arms, substitution of illegal coca crops, land reform, political participation of demobilized rebels, and transitional justice to promote the rights of vicitms, among other measures. 

Once President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timochenko officially sign the final peace accords, the FARC's estimated 7,000 rebels will have 180 days to come out of their mountain camps and demobilize at transitional camps, monitored by the Untied Nations. The FARC's weapons are set to be melted down to create three peace monuments. 

Disarmament will be the first step toward the FARC becoming a non-military political movement that will be on the ballot in the country's next general election in 2018. If Colombians vote "yes" to the peace agreement in the plebiscite on Oct. 2, the FARC will have non-voting representation in Congress until the next time the country goes to the polls to elect its leaders. 

During the symbolic signing and unveiling of the final peace deal in Havana, chief FARC negotiator Ivan Marquez said, "I think we have won the most beautiful battle: Peace in Colombia."

 

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Leidi, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, poses for a picture at a camp in Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, Aug. 26, 2016.
Leidi, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, poses for a picture at a camp in Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, Aug. 26, 2016. Photo:Reuters
A couple from the FARC rest inside a tent at a camp in the Colombian Andes.
A couple from the FARC rest inside a tent at a camp in the Colombian Andes. Photo:Reuters
Eduar, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, is seen wearing a cap with badges showing images of Che Guevara and FARC's late founder Manuel Marulanda at a camp in the Colombian mountains.
Eduar, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, is seen wearing a cap with badges showing images of Che Guevara and FARC's late founder Manuel Marulanda at a camp in the Colombian mountains.
A peace deal unveiled between Colombia's government and guerrilla leaders will end half a century of war and allow the rebels to set up a political party and seek power peacefully, at the ballot box.
A peace deal unveiled between Colombia's government and guerrilla leaders will end half a century of war and allow the rebels to set up a political party and seek power peacefully, at the ballot box. Photo:Reuters
A machine gun and a chair are pictured in at a FARC camp.
A machine gun and a chair are pictured in at a FARC camp. Photo:Reuters
Reintegrating the FARC's 7,000 rebel fighters into Colombian society will be a key part of achieving the country's much-awaited stable and lasting peace.
Reintegrating the FARC's 7,000 rebel fighters into Colombian society will be a key part of achieving the country's much-awaited stable and lasting peace. Photo:Reuters
FARC combatants stand in line to get food at a camp. Men and woman in the FARC share duties evenly, from cooking and washing clothes to engaging in combat.
FARC combatants stand in line to get food at a camp. Men and woman in the FARC share duties evenly, from cooking and washing clothes to engaging in combat. Photo:Reuters
Members of the FARC listen to a lecture on the peace process between the Colombian government, which launched in Havana, Cuba, in 2012.
Members of the FARC listen to a lecture on the peace process between the Colombian government, which launched in Havana, Cuba, in 2012. Photo:Reuters
Alexandra, a member of the FARC, poses for a picture at a camp in Cordillera Oriental. Women make up nearly 40 percent of the FARC and share the same duties in the force as men.
Alexandra, a member of the FARC, poses for a picture at a camp in Cordillera Oriental. Women make up nearly 40 percent of the FARC and share the same duties in the force as men. Photo:Reuters
The FARC was launched in 1964 on the foundation of anti-imperialist and Marxist ideology to fight for the rights of rural people and against inequality.
The FARC was launched in 1964 on the foundation of anti-imperialist and Marxist ideology to fight for the rights of rural people and against inequality. Photo:Reuters
FARC rebels prepare a meal at a mountain camp.
FARC rebels prepare a meal at a mountain camp. Photo:Reuters
With the peace deal, FARC rebels will lay down their arms and transition into a legally-recognized, non-military political movement for the first time in the group's 52-year history.
With the peace deal, FARC rebels will lay down their arms and transition into a legally-recognized, non-military political movement for the first time in the group's 52-year history. Photo:Reuters
Patricia, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, feeds chickens at a camp in Cordillera Oriental.
Patricia, a member of the 51st Front of the FARC, feeds chickens at a camp in Cordillera Oriental. Photo:Reuters
Ahead of the official signing of the peace deal, the FARC leadership will hold a national conference from Sept. 13 to 19 to ratify the peace agreement with the base of the movement.
Ahead of the official signing of the peace deal, the FARC leadership will hold a national conference from Sept. 13 to 19 to ratify the peace agreement with the base of the movement. Photo:Reuters
A plebiscite will be held on Oct. 2 in Colombia that will ask voters whether or not they accept the peace agreement between the government and the FARC.
A plebiscite will be held on Oct. 2 in Colombia that will ask voters whether or not they accept the peace agreement between the government and the FARC. Photo:Reuters
Yeimi and Sebastian, members of the FARC, are seen inside a tent at a rebel camp. The camps will soon be demobilized as the FARC transitions into an unarmed movement.
Yeimi and Sebastian, members of the FARC, are seen inside a tent at a rebel camp. The camps will soon be demobilized as the FARC transitions into an unarmed movement. Photo:Reuters
Weapons of former FARC rebels, once handed over in the demobilization and laying down of arms, will be melted down to build three peace monuments to commemorate the end of the war and a new era for Colombian society.
Weapons of former FARC rebels, once handed over in the demobilization and laying down of arms, will be melted down to build three peace monuments to commemorate the end of the war and a new era for Colombian society. Photo:Reuters
Published 28 August 2016
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