Colombia’s largest rebel group, FARC, on Thursday presented their last three rurual development proposals.
The proposals included legalizing certain illegal crops “for reasons”, creating a rural census and establinshing limits to foreign ownership of rural land.
The FARC asked for “a revision of the agreements and the treaties [regarding] supranat
The FARC delegation also called for a “revision” of agreements that stimulated “financial speculation.”
The rebel group, once again, called for a Constituent National Assembly to decide the fate of the peace process.
However, in mid-January, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos ruled out the possibility of an Assembly, claiming this would alter the basic construction of the Colombian state.
BACKGROUND: Santos rejects FARC proposal to hold constituent assembly
Senior FARC negotiator “Ivan Marquez” on Wednesday said the rebels and the government had found “” in the question of agrarian reform.
“Our vision regarding the problem of [land use] in Colombia, the definition of its character [as a] generator of violence, has been [presented] before the government of Juan Manuel Santos, encountering that diagnostic exist [regarding] this factor as the cause of the confrontation which makes our country bleed,” Marquez said.
The government’s lead negotiator Humberto de la Calle agreed that an “overlap” existed between the two sides is their desires to “transform” the rural countryside, but said that “significant differences remain.” The government’s chief negotiator also said that the more than 550 citizen proposals regarding agricultural reform “enriched the debate” and were of great help.
BACKGROUND: Peace negotiators receive proposals from Colombia’s civil society
The former vice president also reiterated that the government was seeking “agreements that allow, with the necessary guarantees, the demobilization of the guerrillas” and “ceasefire will only [occur] when they have reached definitive agreements.”
The third round of peace talks are set to conclude on Thursday.