Colombia peace deal success hailed by Sinn Féin contributors to talks in Cuba

THE peace agreement reached in Cuba between the Colombian Government and the left-wing guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, People’s Army (FARC-EP) to end the 52-year conflict in the South American country that has seen an estimated 220,000 deaths and millions more displaced has been welcomed by Sinn Féin, which has contributed to the talks.

“The Colombian Government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord,” Colombian Government and FARC negotiators said in a joint statement in the Cuban capital, Havana, that was broadcast live on Wednesday.

FARC’s chief negotiator, Ivan Marquez, said:

“We won the most beautiful of all battles – Peace.”

The final text of the peace agreement will now be put to a popular vote on 2 October.

● Conor Murphy has met Colombia peace talks negotiators in Cuba

Martin McGuinness tweeted that he was “overjoyed to hear Colombian peace talks in Havana have resulted in agreement to end war and conflict”.

Conor Murphy MLA, one of a number of senior Sinn Féin personnel who had travelled to Cuba to meet with both sides “and share our experiences of building peace”, described the announcement as a further historic step in the process to end the longest-running conflict in the world.

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann was another elected representative who met the negotiators during peace talks in Havana.

The Dáil Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD (pictured above), said:

“I want to commend the extremely hard work that the Colombian Government and FARC negotiators have put in over the past four and a half years of talks. I also want to commend the Cuban and Norwegian governments for helping to facilitate and support the talks process.”

After decades of devastating war, he said that no one is in any doubt that huge difficulties and challenges lay ahead.

“All sides to the agreement prepare need to take risks to ensure a fair and equitable peace process is established and that this process is nurtured and built on,” Deputy Crowe said.

He said the Colombian Government needs to bring to an end “the continued brutal and violent actions of right-wing paramilitary groups”.

In the 30 days between 21 February and 18 March of this year, 30 political and community activists were murdered by these paramilitaries.

“Peace cannot grow in a climate of fear and repression,” Seán Crowe said. “The Colombian Government needs to ensure that the democratic process is open to all political groups without fear of attack or assassination.

“The issue of land distribution and the millions of internally displaced by this conflict will be a huge and immediate challenge.

“I hope that formal negotiations between the Colombian Government and the ELN can also reach a successful conclusion, and that the Colombian people can begin the arduous task of building a lasting and inclusive peace in their country.”

● For more, see Telesur.