- Title: Colombia readies for peace plan referendum
- Date: 1st October 2016
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (OCTOBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF REGISTRY OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "I hope that when the contest ends tomorrow, we will all be able to say anew that democracy is functioning, and functioning well, and that the result, whatever it may be, will be embraced by all Colombians, 'we embrace it, we accept it.' And I hope we will be able to work together in building this peace because what can happen tomorrow is we can put an end to a war, silence the weapons. But the construction of peace will begin there." VARIOUS OF MURAL PAINTED ON HOUSES WITH LETTERING SPELLING "PAZ" ("PEACE")
- Embargoed: 16th October 2016 19:48
- Keywords: Santos FARC peace plan referendum
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA003526ARLV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Colombian government said preparations were going well for Sunday's (October 2) referendum in which Colombians are set to vote on a peace deal between the FARC insurgency and the government.
Workers on Saturday (October 1) were busily setting up voting areas and assuring voting materials arrived to polling places ahead of the historic vote.
"The activities to distribute the electoral materials are underway with total normality, and the electoral kits have been distributed without any inconvenience," the head of Colombia's national registry, Juan Carlos Galindo said on Friday (September 30).
"We offer calm, the process is advancing on schedule. And so I can tell all Colombians that everything is under control, and we are basically ready with the preparations for the plebiscite process on October 2," Galindo added.
The peace deal, which will receive final approval or rejection at the polls on Sunday, would assure an end to half a decade of armed conflict and pave the way for the FARC to transition into a political party.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he was hoping voters would approve the plan and usher in a new post-war era.
"I hope that when the contest ends tomorrow, we will all be able to say anew that democracy is functioning, and functioning well, and that the result, whatever it may be, will be embraced by all Colombians, 'we embrace it, we accept it.' And I hope we will be able to work together in building this peace because what can happen tomorrow is we can put an end to a war, silence the weapons. But the construction of peace will begin there," Santos said.
Santos, 64, began peace talks with the FARC in 2012.
Four years later, the two parties reached an accord on five phases of talks to end a conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people since it began in 1964.
Both sides have agreed to the creation of special tribunals to try former combatants and have embraced an amnesty that would exclude those who committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, and provide reparations for victims.
Polls show the plebiscite is likely to pass easily. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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