FARC and Government of Colombia to Remove Landmines Together
Olivier LeCourt and Helmet Joachim Schmidt
Modern Tokyo Times
The government of Colombia and FARC rebels are cementing the trust obtained between both sides in 2014 in order to move forward in 2015. This applies to mutually agreeing to remove indiscriminate landmines in rural parts of Colombia. Therefore, the fresh hope that emerged last year appears to holding sway because this latest joint mission should create greater trust between both parties.
Peace talks began in earnest over two years ago in Cuba and while these important political stepping stones are still fraught with danger if either side backtracks, the omens look more than promising. Complex areas remain because massacres by both sides took place. On top of this, the United States allowed the CIA to involve itself in many sinister deeds against FARC and individuals deemed a threat to the government of Colombia over many decades.
The BBC reports: “Colombia’s government and Farc rebels have agreed to work together to remove landmines in rural areas of the country where they have fought since the 1960s.”
Of course, mutual suspicion remains between FARC rebels and the military of Colombia that is not only a national army, but in the past the armed forces was heavily tied to politics alongside the meddling of America. Therefore, it is highly recommendable that both FARC rebels and the armed forces of this nation will work closely together in order to de-landmine rural areas.
Modern Tokyo Times stated last year that: “Major steps are underway in order for a genuine peace deal to be signed between the government of Colombia and FARC rebels. According to latest details it appears that both sides have agreed to a political role for the left-wing movement once a peace deal is reached between both parties. If this finally materializes, then it is hoped that Colombia can start a fresh page whereby this nation can move on from a bloody period in its history.”
Humberto de la Calle, chief negotiator for the government of Colombia, said: “The proposal for demining is a first step, but a giant step toward making peace.”
It is believed that approximately 11,000 Colombian nationals have been injured to varying degrees or killed by indiscriminate landmines in the last 15 years. This figure is shockingly high and sums up much about the brutal conflict that first simmered to a deadly degree in the 1960s. At the same time, the Cold War era meant that various different American governments have been involved in murky dealings.
In recent times The Guardian reports “A covert CIA program has helped Colombia’s government kill at least two dozen leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the rebel insurgency also known as Farc, The Washington Post reported Saturday.”
This media group continues: “The National Security Agency has also provided “substantial eavesdropping help” to the Colombian government, according to the Post. And the US provided Colombia with GPS equipment that can be used to transform regular munitions into “smart bombs” that can accurately home in on specific targets, even if they are located in dense jungles.”
Lee Jay Walker at Modern Tokyo Times says: “FARC suffered greatly because of the role of the CIA therefore it is essential that America is kept at a distance during peace talks in Cuba. Indeed, it is essential that mediators underscore the importance of an internal solution based on the sincerity of both FARC and the government of Colombia. At the same time, both parties need genuine honest brokers therefore it is essential that talks and dialogue continue in Cuba.”
The current leader of Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos, is optimistic that the agreement about landmines will further strengthen the political goodwill on both sides.
President Santos stated enthusiastically that: “I would like to congratulate our negotiating team and acknowledge what the Farc are doing, because this is bringing us closer to the shared objective of reaching peace in Colombia.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/cia-helped-colombia-kill-rebel-leaders
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24842432
Lee Jay Walker gave guidance to both writers
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