Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has appointed a three-member panel to begin talks with the main political party opposing the thwarted peace deal between the government and FARC rebels.
In a speech on Monday evening, President Santos said the country was in need of unity and it was time to let go of grudges and hatred
He also added it was the time to act promptly, “as uncertainty and lack of clarity about what follows, jeopardizes all that has been built so far.”
Colombia was thrown into disarray Sunday after voters narrowly rejected a referendum on the deal brokered between the government and FARC, a Marxist rebel group. Final results showed a little more than 50% voted no.
The shock rejection was unexpected because the agreement had taken more than four years to negotiate and would have ended five decades of war that left an estimated 220,000 people dead.
The President has tasked Chief Negotiator Humberto de la Calle, Foreign Minister Maria, Angela Holguin, and Minister of Defense, Luis Carlos Villegas with reworking the peace deal between the government and FARC rebels.
FARC to follow deal
FARC Commander Timoleón “Timochenko” Jiménez said that his group would maintain the ceasefire with Colombia’s government that was put into effect last June.
Timochenko said FARC would follow the peace deal that was signed last week between him and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
“The FARC-EP remains faithful to the agreement,” he said In a televised statement on Colombia’s state-run TV. “Peace with dignity is here to stay.”
Santos also said the government would respect the ceasefire and that negotiations would continue in Havana, Cuba.
Colombia’s political representatives — including Congress leaders, Senate leaders, party leaders and government negotiators — met Monday in Bogota with Santos. Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, who had been leading the campaign against the referendum, did not attend.
Rejected by voters
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Monday he would send his special envoy, Jean Arnault, to Havana for talks on the peace agreement. He said he was encouraged that both sides appeared to want to end armed conflict.
“After more than five decades of war, the Colombian people deserve no less,” he said through a spokesperson.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby commended the peaceful election and said “difficult decisions are going to have to be taken in the days ahead.” He said the United States supports Santos’ efforts for a broad dialogue.
The referendum appeared to fail because Colombians thought the deal didn’t do enough to punish the FARC rebels.
FARC had seized territory, attacked government forces and conducted high-profile kidnappings. The rebels also hijacked planes, made millions trafficking cocaine and forced children to fight.
