Colombia’s president tried Monday to keep alive an agreement to end Latin America’s longest-running war after a shocking rejection by voters, but his opponents made clear their price for joining the effort will be steep. – Washington Post
Lulled by the polls, the government failed to drive Colombians to the ballot box, resulting in anemic turnout in places that favored the deal. President Juan Manuel Santos had staked his legacy on achieving peace, but his approval ratings were so low that his endorsement may have actually hurt the deal’s chances…But for many others, the reason the deal failed was an emotional one. The agreement had always been a tug of war between peace and justice, and in the end, the demand for justice won. – New York Times
The stunning outcome thrusts Mr. Uribe, now 64 years old and a senator, into a central role shaping what will happen next. Some Colombians see him as the only person who can renegotiate the deal in a way to convince skeptics it isn’t too lenient toward rebels who have gripped Colombia in conflict for 52 years. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
The surprise vote marked a staggering setback for Santos, who gambled his political career on winning the referendum and ending the half-century war with the leftist separatists. But the decision also dealt a blow to the United States, which spent years aiding a military offensive against the FARC rebels and then backed painstaking talks that led to the historic agreement. – Foreign Policy
Editorial: At best, the pact might be revised to provide for tougher treatment of FARC leaders guilty of crimes, while continuing to pardon rank-and-file fighters. But Mr. Londoño and his clique stoutly resisted such accountability through years of negotiations. Mr. Santos could also try to push the accord or a slightly amended version through Congress in spite of the referendum, which was nonbinding. Better, however, to accept democracy’s verdict, and look for another way forward. – Washington Post
Editorial: President Obama had also thrown U.S. prestige behind the Havana pact, partly to secure his detente with Cuba. The U.S. has responded to the defeat by saying it respects democracy, and if that’s true it will avoid pressuring Mr. Santos to make more concessions and offer to help Colombia if the FARC returns to its murderous ways. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Jose Cardenas writes: All Colombians want peace; just not at any price. Now, the decision to return to the negotiating table rests with the FARC. The burden is on them, not the state, to prove their interest in peace. If they truly are sincere in their commitment to disarm and demobilize — as they have been saying these past four years — then they need to realize that amnesty and guaranteed political participation are non-starters with the Colombian people. – National Review Online
Roger Noriega writes: US policymakers cannot ignore the fact that the negotiations have undermined Colombia’s anti-drug efforts — suspending extraditions of FARC drug kingpins and easing up on anti-drug operations — producing a 50% increase in coca cultivation. It is urgent for the United States to redouble efforts to find and freeze FARC funds and to continue support for Colombia’s security and development efforts. – AEI Ideas
Lulled by the polls, the government failed to drive Colombians to the ballot box, resulting in anemic turnout in places that favored the deal. President Juan Manuel Santos had staked his legacy on achieving peace, but his approval ratings were so low that his endorsement may have actually hurt the deal’s chances…But for many others, the reason the deal failed was an emotional one. The agreement had always been a tug of war between peace and justice, and in the end, the demand for justice won. – New York Times
The stunning outcome thrusts Mr. Uribe, now 64 years old and a senator, into a central role shaping what will happen next. Some Colombians see him as the only person who can renegotiate the deal in a way to convince skeptics it isn’t too lenient toward rebels who have gripped Colombia in conflict for 52 years. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
The surprise vote marked a staggering setback for Santos, who gambled his political career on winning the referendum and ending the half-century war with the leftist separatists. But the decision also dealt a blow to the United States, which spent years aiding a military offensive against the FARC rebels and then backed painstaking talks that led to the historic agreement. – Foreign Policy
Editorial: At best, the pact might be revised to provide for tougher treatment of FARC leaders guilty of crimes, while continuing to pardon rank-and-file fighters. But Mr. Londoño and his clique stoutly resisted such accountability through years of negotiations. Mr. Santos could also try to push the accord or a slightly amended version through Congress in spite of the referendum, which was nonbinding. Better, however, to accept democracy’s verdict, and look for another way forward. – Washington Post
Editorial: President Obama had also thrown U.S. prestige behind the Havana pact, partly to secure his detente with Cuba. The U.S. has responded to the defeat by saying it respects democracy, and if that’s true it will avoid pressuring Mr. Santos to make more concessions and offer to help Colombia if the FARC returns to its murderous ways. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Jose Cardenas writes: All Colombians want peace; just not at any price. Now, the decision to return to the negotiating table rests with the FARC. The burden is on them, not the state, to prove their interest in peace. If they truly are sincere in their commitment to disarm and demobilize — as they have been saying these past four years — then they need to realize that amnesty and guaranteed political participation are non-starters with the Colombian people. – National Review Online
Roger Noriega writes: US policymakers cannot ignore the fact that the negotiations have undermined Colombia’s anti-drug efforts — suspending extraditions of FARC drug kingpins and easing up on anti-drug operations — producing a 50% increase in coca cultivation. It is urgent for the United States to redouble efforts to find and freeze FARC funds and to continue support for Colombia’s security and development efforts. – AEI Ideas
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