Colombia is the birthplace of magic realism. The planes of Macondo, are inspired by the coastal region, while the banana plantations mirror those of Aracataca. This beautiful country on the northern tip of South America bordering Brazil, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and Ecuador is full of natural resources and fascinating culture. Colombia provides 90% of the world's emeralds and an average of 11.9 million bags of coffee, making it the third-highest producer globally.
Despite everything Colombia has to contribute to the international market, ever since the Colombian civil war, from 1948 to 1958, the terrorist group FARC increased distribution and production of drugs, incited widespread violence, and have led the country to decreased economic productivity. The FARC's main goal was to represent rural communities in Colombia who were seemingly ignored by the government; however, this purpose was distorted quickly. It culminated in drug trade, kidnapping, extortion, and illegal gold mining which has plagued the country for over fifty years.
Afraid and tired of the status quo, the Colombian public started demanding change. They started challenging corrupt leaders and insisting on reforms that would open up the country for investment and improve education, healthcare, and the general well-being of the population. Because of this, former president Juan Manuel Santos created a team to negotiate the terms of a peace deal in an attempt to end the conflict with the FARC. Santos negotiated with the FARC in Cuba, ending with the 2016 peace agreement, summarized in six points.
The peace proposal begins with a rural reform in which 10 million hectares of unclaimed lands which were used to plant illicit cocaine, were distributed to rural communities. This point is seemingly beneficial, but as the government distribute the land, people end up with uncultivated, remote, unused territories with no opportunity to turn it into profit. It is important to note that the people receiving these benefits are mostly those who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, and therefore are poor, uneducated, and lacking the resources to manage this land. To start, people need money for transportation to survey the land, then funds to plant, cultivate, and maintain the plantations. Then, to turn a profit, the goods need to be transported. However, Colombia does not currently have the infrastructure in terms of highways and roads to carry the products from remote regions. Although distributing unused land sounds like an appropriate reform to compensate communities for the years of violence, these citizens own property, but they do not have the resources to use it. It is important to note that Colombia is a country that covers 440,831 square miles with a population of over 50.8 million people, and not all of the 10 million redistributed hectares are suffering from the problem mentioned above.
The peace proposal continues with a clause named "Political Participation," in which former members of guerrilla groups would have the opportunity to be represented in the government. Although the FARC's new opportunity of political participation disgruntled many, this concession led to the third point of the agreement, which would mark the end of the fifty-year war. This point explained the FARC's demobilization, its implementation, and all the intricacies of dismantling the group that caused instability for so long.
The fourth point of the peace agreement focuses on attacking head-on the drug problem that has terrorized and incited violence in Colombia for decades on end. The collateral damage that affected over eight and a half million civilians was an important factor that impulsed the government to attempt creating peace with this guerrilla group. The FARC agreed to divulge information about the drug trafficking routes and halt the cultivation and distribution of said products.The agreement states that through the course of ten years, the government will seek to repair and repay the victims. The official governmental statement is they will "Firstly, uncover the truth of the events. Secondly, claim justice for the crimes committed during the conflict. In addition, [we will] compensate the victims for their losses, and finally, guarantee that these events will not repeat themselves." It is important to note that tangible actions are not elaborated upon in the written agreement, a factor which causes doubts on whether this aspect of the process will truly be successful. The sixth point marks the conclusion of the main aspects covered in the agreement and is the point that holds accountability over all the other details of the deal.
Although many aspects of this arrangement have wide room for improvement, both parties signed the agreement. It is now the public's turn to voice their opinions and share their stories so that government representatives can make clear-cut changes.
Many citizens say that they want members of the FARC to serve jail time and pay for their actions, an idea that is completely set aside in the current peace agreement due to the second point: “Political Participation”. The country must start building a reliable and trustworthy governmental system, which is not easily achieved by incorporating members of the FARC into decision making. Furthermore, it is of utmost importance to take care of the issue of drug production as this is the catalyst for violence and further generation of rural militias. With dependable leaders, the public will know that the government is acting efficiently to put into action the reforms stated in the agreement while also negotiating possible improvements for further sustainability.
"The most important thing I learned to do after I was forty was to say no when it is no." Stated by Garcia Marquez, a boy from a small town, with a small house, and a seemingly small future- which he challenged and broke away from, writing with the ease of a light breeze on a summer day. The Colombian spirit of resilience and determination is captured in these words, for this country has fought for over fifty years, and it is not ready to surrender under incomplete terms. The public is still voicing its opinions, fighting against oppression, and using the available resources to continue with a peace process that is sustainable and satisfying for both parties. In the end, it is essential to build upon the signed agreement without resentment in order to unite Colombia's extensive resources in terms of culture, natural resources, and passion from its citizens for the collective improvement of this rising third-world country.
Written By: Carolina Mejia Rodriguez
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