In the first Colombian television interview delivered by the FARC at peace talks in Havana, Cuba, spokespersons criticized former president Alvaro Uribe and his followers for “conspiring against the peace.”
Peace talks between the government and guerrilla group began in November 2012 on the basis of a five-point peace agenda. An agreement was reached in May regarding the first item on the agenda – rural agrarian development – while discussions revolving around the second item on the agenda – political participation – continue.
“There are those in Colombia who do not want peace, peace is not convenient for them,” said FARC spokesperson Pablo Catatumbo referring to Uribistas, the political followers of the former president. “They think the only the only way to peace is to beat the guerrillas. We have spent 60 years saying we will never be finished.”
Uribe has strongly criticized and ultimately turned his back on President Juan Manuel Santos’ administration for engaging in peace talks with rebel groups in what he claims equates to “offering impunity to terrorism.”
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The other FARC spokesperson in the interview also had strong words for Uribe who he claimed had failed to defeat the FARC militarily as president, and so should now let Colombians achieve peace by political means. “Mr. Alvaro Uribe is one of the principal enemies of peace in Colombia… If wasn’t capable of winning the war, he should at least allow us to find an agreement among Colombians, who mostly support a political solution to this issue.”