Bogotá: FARC victims honoured. Oslo: talks to begin

 

Colombia´s FARC guerrillas will tomorrow meet President Santos´ negotiating team ahead of the official start of the peace talks, two days after families of the rebel group´s victims convened in Bogotá to appeal for justice and for the memory of their loved ones to be present in the dialogues.

The FARC claim not to hold any hostages in their power, but according to Clara Rojas, of the NGO País Libre, this year alone has seen the kidnapping of 22 people, all still in the hands of the FARC. Over the last 10 years, Rojas estimate the number of those whose whereabouts are unknown to lie anywhere between 400 and 600.

Yesterday´s gathering brought together those most affected by these disappearances, not only to denounce the crimes of the FARC in front of the nation´s legal apparatus, but also to implore us not to believe FARC ´foreign minister´ Rodrigo Ganda´s claim that the guerrillas are the real victims of the war.

Last month, Ganda took to the airwaves to plead the FARC´s innocence in a civil conflict of their making, sickening many of those who have lost loved ones over nearly 50 years of insurgency.

In sharp contrast to the violent scenes of the march organized by the so called indignados, that on Friday saw parts of central Bogotá vandalized, and pitched battles between hooded protestors and the police, yesterday´s event was a show of dignity – and even forgiveness.

The meeting was organized by País Libre, alongside the Asociación Los que Faltan, the Madres de la Candelaria, and the Caracol Radio programme, ”Las voces del secuestro”.

Despite reports that the FARC had blocked roads leading in and out of certain rural areas of Colombia (where the incidence of kidnapping has been highest) to try to limit the number of attendees, and despite its explosion of two energy plants in Norte de Santander, the Marxist rebel group were unable to prevent the arrival of the hundreds who yesterday made sure the crimes will not go unreported.

The peace process has been scheduled to begin on 17 October, and the negotiating teams are meeting behind closed doors in Oslo tomorrow to finalize the details of the official opening of the dialogues.

Within weeks, the talks will be moved to Cuba where they will explore the programmed issues in earnest.

Colombia Politics wonders how the faces of these victims will play on the mind of government team. How will they be factored into the negotiated  justice that FARC guerillas will face if and when they demobilize?