- Title: Colombians cautiously optimistic on new peace accord
- Date: 25th November 2016
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET PEOPLE WALKING OVER OVERPASS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN, JOSE GILBERT BARRETO, SAYING: "I think it's very good that there is peace. But I don't agree on some things. They should at least pay - as did the demobilized forces of the paramilitaries - they should at least pay with some time in jail. All of them. Why? Because how can people who killed and kidnapped people over more than 40 years not pay even one day in jail? That seems unjust." PEOPLE WALKING AMONGST VENDING KIOSKS MEN READING NEWSPAPER NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING: "PEACE IN THE HANDS OF CONGRESS" PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN, RAMIRO JOVEN PALAMARES, SAYING: "One has to have a lot of faith, first in our God so that things work out because things can't be like this, unpunished crimes, this cannot be. I hope there is peace." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BUYING FOOD OUT OF JEEP
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 14:07
- Keywords: Juan Manuel Santos peace accord FARC Rodrigo Londono
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00159Y1I6F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombians appeared cautiously optimistic about a new peace accord on Friday (November 25), one day after the FARC and Colombian government signed the new pact.
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono signed a revised peace accord on Thursday (November 24) in a far more sober ceremony than a first deal rejected last month by millions at a plebiscite.
Despite widespread relief at an end to conflict, many among Colombia's largely conservative residents are angry because, like the original agreement, the new deal will not jail FARC leaders who committed crimes like kidnappings and massacres, and it allows them to hold political office.
"I think it's very good that there is peace. But I don't agree on some things. They should at least pay - as did the demobilized forces of the paramilitaries - they should at least pay with some time in jail. All of them. Why? Because how can people who killed and kidnapped people over more than 40 years not pay even one day in jail? That seems unjust," said Colombian Jose Gilbert Barreto.
"One has to have a lot of faith, first in our God so that things work out because things can't be like this, unpunished crimes, this cannot be. I hope there is peace," said another Colombia, Ramiro Joven Palamares.
The new accord to end 52 years of war in Latin America's fourth-largest economy was put together in just over a month after the original pact was narrowly and unexpectedly defeated in an Oct. 2 referendum for being too lenient on the rebels.
The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) worked together in Cuba for four years to negotiate an end to the region's longest-running conflict that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions in the Andean nation.
Opposition leader and former President Alvaro Uribe spearheaded the push to reject the original accord and wanted deeper changes to the new version.
Opponents to the first deal are furious Santos will ratify the new deal in Congress instead of holding another vote and is urging street protests.
Santos had always promised Colombians would have the final word in a referendum, but is sidestepping that for the revised deal.
After the signing, he sent the deal straight to Congress for a vote next week. The government's majority means approval is likely to be speedy.
The FARC, which began as a rebellion fighting rural poverty, has battled a dozen governments as well as right-wing paramilitary groups.
An end to the war with the FARC is unlikely to end violence in Colombia as the lucrative cocaine business has given rise to criminal gangs and traffickers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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