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EmmaKate Blakeslee
English 3
4/7/16
Reaching For Peace
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC), is the oldest rebel
group in the nation. Throughout the five-decade long war between the FARC and the
Colombian government, attitudes have begun to change. Both sides are mobbing
towards peace, but the way they go about it is having an impact on the relation
between Colombia and other nations, the Colombian drug cartel, and peace in
Colombia itself.
Peace grows between countries when a nation becomes divided. President
Obama spoke with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to celebrate the $10
billion given to them by the U.S. to stop its drugs cartels and rebel group, FARC. The
Colombian government is expecting to sign final peace agreements by March 23.
Mr. Santos speaking on Obamas actions, YOU not only believed it was possible,
you encouraged me to go ahead and gave me your full, enthusiastic support, Mr.
Santos thanked President Obama for his audacity in re-establishing diplomatic
relations with Cuba.
The original date for the signing of a peace treaty was March 23. However,
that date has been delayed over differences. According to Xinhua News, So far, the
government and FARC have already reached agreements on agricultural
development, rebel participation in politics, the fight against drug trafficking, the

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search for people who went missing during the war, and reparations by FARC to its
victims. Neither side is in a hurry to sign a bad agreement.
The progress between both sides has been slow but notable. The FARC has
come out and stated that there has been substantial progress in discussing peace
agreements with the Colombian government. The Colombian government has even
gone out of their way to arrest Santiago Uribe, in attempts to raise trust between
themselves and FARC. Even with this gracious act of the Colombian government,
FARC has expressed that they will not change their goals but will agree to try and
end their 50 year war. Santos, Colombias president has already announced that
after the peace treaty is signed, a variety of rehabilitation programs will welcome
the thousands of men in FARC.
The government pledged that after July 20, they needed to de-escalate their
militant actions. This follows the FARC agreeing to stop any offensive action in place.
According to colmbiapeace.org Mr. Santos commented, Four months from now,
depending on whether the FARC comply, I will make the decision about whether or
not we continue with the process. The Colombian government stated the peace
agreement with FARC about three years ago. Both agreed last year theyd reach a
peace agreement by March 23, in attempt to bring an end to decades long conflict
in Colombia.
Both Colombian government and rebels have reached an agreement on the
issues of land reform, drug trafficking, and FARCs involvement, and injustice for
each family that lost someone to the 50 year long war. According to the article, A
New Plan for Colombia, Under Alvaro Uribe, who followed Mr.Pastrana as
President, the paramilitaries demobilized and the FARC guerillas start peace talks

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with the government of Juan Manuel Santos, Mr. Uribes successor (and his former
defense minister). FARC has also come out and spoke despite the differences,
they remained committed to finding a peaceful solution to more than five decades
of conflict.
Just because FARC and the Colombian governments have agreed on positive
things, there is also a negative. According to the article Colombian Attorney Claims
that the Government allows the FARC continue with drug trafficking. With peace
near, this will make for a drastic shift in Colombias drug trade. Although the illegal
drug industry began taking hold in Colombia in the 1970s, the FARC had long
considered the business counter revolutionary and feared drug money would
corrupt its forces. But as a rural-based rebel movement with few ties to urban areas,
money was always in short supply. (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)
Discussing worldly events is importation to everyone in learning about the
economy and government. If you are unaware of worldly events issues could be
moving closer and closer than you think. This issue is so important to me because I
work closely with Colombians at my job and the issue of FARC and the Colombian
government has had an effect on them. I believe that if we dont do things such as
Obama did, (reaching out to help Colombia). Then who will be there for our nation
when we need them?

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Works Cited
Peace Timeline 2015. Colombia Peace. N.p., 05 Jan. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016
Program, Latin American. The FARC and Colombians Illegal Drug Trade (n.d.): n.
pag. Web
Colombian Attorney Claims that the government allows the FARC continue to drug
trafficking. CNN Wire [Spanish] 19 Apr. 2016. Global Issues in Context Web 21 Apr.
2016
Landler, Mark. Obama Lauds Colombia for Pursuing Peace with Rebels and Seeks
Big New York Times. 05 Feb. 2016: A.6. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Apr.
2016
Colombian president indicates extention of deadline for peace deal with FARC.
Xinhua News Agency 10 March 2016. Global Issues in Context, Web. 21 Apr. 2016

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Colombia-Farc Peace Talks Delayed over differences BBC New. N.p., Web. 21 Apr.
2016