Colombia’s congress is ready to debate legislation that would allow for the political participation of rebel group FARC, local media reported on Wednesday.
According to newspaper El Especatdor, the guerrillas admission on Tuesday of having “caused hardship and pain” throughout the conflict has left the Senate and House of Representatives more receptive to the idea of the FARC in congress.
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To this end, congress will initiate two projects both designed to provide political space to the rebel group. These projects will run simultaneously with peace talks in Havana.
According to the newspaper, congress has not ruled out the possibility of a peace constituency, to allow the rebels to actively participate in policy without the use of weapons.
Congress will begin initiating these projects next week, on the basis that the FARC on Tuesday made the most important political statement in their history.
Roy Barreras, chairman of the senate committee on peace, said through his twitter account “we will innovate legislative initiatives necessary to open the way to participation.”
The FARC and the government have been involved in peace talks since November in order to seek a negotiated end to the internal conflict.
While an accord has been reached regarding land reform, no agreements have been made on the issue of the FARC’s political participation, drug trafficking, the practicalities of the end of the armed conflict and the rights of the victims.