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Former Colombian Senator and human rights activist Piedad Cordoba announced Tuesday that the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) would sign on Wednesday an agreement for justice and reparations to victims of the more than 50-year-old armed conflict, which both sides are looking to end through peace talks in Havana, Cuba since late 2012.
President Juan Manuel Santos announced early Wednesday that he was on his way to Havana for the discussions.
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Haré escala en La Habana para reunión clave con negociadores con el fin de acelerar el fin del conflicto. La paz está cerca.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos)
September 23, 2015
Me alegro muchísimo! mañana se firma el acuerdo de justicia y victimas !día histórico para el país!!
— Piedad Córdoba Ruiz (@piedadcordoba)
September 23, 2015
Felicito al Gobierno de @JuanManSantos y a las @FARC_EPaz por la inminente firma del punto de justicia y víctimas. Ya viene la paz!!!
— Piedad Córdoba Ruiz (@piedadcordoba)
September 23, 2015
However, her announcement could not be confirmed officially, while the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, according to Prensa Latina, said that although the talks in Havana officially resume Sept. 28, the government delegation would be in the island nation’s capital tomorrow Wednesday to begin consultations as to speed up the peace process regarding agreements on justice for the victims and the transition of the leftists rebels into society and political participation.
Last week, the head of the FARC delegation Luciano Marin Arango, aka “Ivan Marquez,” said that both sides were “close to reaching an agreement” upon the “decisive” point of justice for victims. Negotiations on victims' reparations has been a controversial component of the agreement that has been discussed for over a year.
He also announced the FARC rebels are ready to lay down their arms and become a political movement.
Marquez added that that they were still negotiating in Havana and “making progress” over a consensus for a bilateral cease-fire. The FARC had announced on July 20 a month-long unilateral cease-fire and then renewed it on Aug. 20 indefinitely while the Colombian armed forces are still attacking the guerrilla group’s positions.
Since the peace talks began in December 2012, both sides continue to resolve remaining differences in the negotiations, which include victim reparations, transitional justice and the final end to violence between the rebels and the state.
Up until now, negotiators have reached partial accords on three of the five points outlined in the 2012 Legal Framework for Peace: land reform, the political future of the Farc and an end to the illicit drugs trade.
However, the most recent breakthrough took place last June after the 37th round of negotiations when FARC representatives announced that a truth commission would be established if a peace agreement was reached by the two sides.
Negotiators agreed that the commission would be comprised of an independent group of mediators with the intent of hearing testimonies of victims from both sides of the conflict.
