FARC to Remain Armed Until Referendum
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has reiterated that the FARC rebels will not need to disarm until a peace agreement has been ratified by public referendum. Critics of Santos say the referendum should be dependent on the rebels disarming first. Santos rejected that argument, saying the “enemies of peace […] are trying to demonize the process and create fear in the country.” Santos’ administration has been adamant that there will be no détente or ceasefire during the peace negotiations, saying “If we reach some agreement, then we will have an immediate ceasefire. That is what we have agreed.” The referendum is expected in next spring. The FARC sought a ceasefire since the beginning of the peace process, and when that was rejected, declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities which has more or less held. More than 220,000 people have died since the period known as La Violencia, gave way to the Colombian civil war in 1958. Roughly 80 percent of those that perished were civilians.