FARC criticized the Land Restitution Law only because it takes away from their “banner of propaganda,” said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday.
In the opening statements of the peace negotiations that officially commenced the second phase in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, head FARC negotiator Ivan Marquez gave a fiery and critical speech, stating that the governmental Land Restitution Law was a “trap.”
Santos responded Friday morning to the accusatory FARC statements, dismissing the criticism as just “guerrilla political manifestations” that no one will pay much attention to. “They are nervous of the land law,” claimed Santos on the radio program “On Line with the President.”
Santos stood firmly by the Land Restitution Law, which he said, “is ruled in favor of families. We are going to continue in the hands of the judges, returning [the land] back to the peasants.”
The Land Restitution Law recently gave land back to Colombian families for the first time. The law aims at restoring land to Colombians to compensate citizens who have suffered from conflict, displacement and violence in the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture has reported that almost 40% of the land claimants are a result from FARC themselves pressuring farmers off their land over the years.
Thursday marked the official start of the peace negotiations between the rebel guerrilla group, FARC, and the Colombian government in Oslo, Norway where representatives from both sides gave statements. The negotiations will then continue in Havana, Cuba starting November 15.