By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

HAVANA, Cuba — An agreement between the Colombian government and FARC rebels was reached on Wednesday at the negotiations in Havana, Cuba. The parties pledged to sign a final peace agreement by March 23, 2016. Following the final agreement, FARC will have 60 days to disarm.

The agreement included the creation of special courts to try former guerilla rebels and military involved in the conflict. Rebels who confess to their crimes will be given five to eight years of confinement to certain rural regions. Those that refuse to confess may face up to 20 years of imprisonment of imprisonment.

Whether these sentences will be offered to those convicted of crimes against humanity is uncertain. Reuters reported that those convicted of crimes against humanity or war crimes will not be allowed that opportunity, but other outlets have reported that the agreement would allow such criminals to benefit from reduced sentencing. Colombian Reports has specifically reported that there would be no impunity.

Human Rights Watch, in a September 28^th article, expressed concern that those responsible for mass atrocities would be able to avoid jail time under the agreement. HRW reports that even those charged under war crimes and crime against humanity would be allowed the “special conditions” if cooperative.

FARC documents seen by the Observer report the same judicial structure. The documents also reported that the negotiators consulted with representatives from the Irish and British participants in the Good Friday Agreement, and that they used the frameworks of the Yugoslavia Tribunal and Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa as models for the transitional justice agreements.

Additionally, the documents reported that those convicted of drug trafficking would not be offered special sentencing.

Whether or not those sentenced under these conditions will be allowed to participate in politics following their released is uncertain. Under Colombian law, anyone sentenced to prison time is precluded from running for office or voting.

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has expressed optimism for the agreement. Her office will be consulting with the Colombian government and other stakeholders throughout this process.

The actual text of the agreement has not yet been released, the only confirmed information is that which has been reported by President Santos.

 

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – International Criminal Court welcomes Colombia deal – 25 September 2015

New York Times – Colombia’s President Says Peace Talks Overcome Late Surprise – 25 September 2015

New York Times – Opinion: The Prospect of Peace in Colombia – 25 September 2015

Wall Street Journal – Colombia’s Dubious Deal with Terrorists – 27 September 2015

Bloomberg View – Colombia’s Chance at Peace – 28 September 2015

Yahoo – Colombia rebel leaders’ political participation uncertain after deal – 28 September 2015

 

 

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador — After a month of tension, Venezuela and Colombia have reestablished diplomatic ties and have begun working towards reopening border crossings.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos engaged in five hours of discussion hosted by President Rafael Correra of Ecuador at the Presidential Palace in Quito. Correra along with President Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay mediated the meeting. Regional organizations UNASUR and CELAC also participated in the discussions.

Following the talks, Correra read a joint statement issued by Santos and Maduro, which detailed a seven point statement of peace agreements, which included the reinstatement of their ambassadors, strengthening bilateral dialogue, an investigation of the border situation and to find a solution to the problems plaguing the border.

A follow-up meeting will be held on September 23^rd.

The Venezuelan/Colombian border has been in a state of crisis since President Maduro implemented a state of emergency and closed border crossings in several regions about a month ago. Maduro blames smugglers operating across the border for an increase in crime and the worsening economy in Venezuela.

Tensions spiked last week when the Colombian government accused a Venezuelan fighter jet of flying into its airspace.

Problems regarding the border have existed for years, dating back to a series of diplomatic spats between the late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The area, which is sparsely populated, is a hotbed of activity for smugglers and paramilitary groups.

As many as 20,000 Colombians living in Venezuela have been displaced as a result of what the United Nations calls a “critical humanitarian situation.”

 

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties, but border remains closed – 21 September 2015

Reuters – Venezuela and Colombia agree to restore ambassadors after spat – 21 September 2015

TeleSur – Venezuela, Colombia Agree to Address Border Closure Dispute – 21 September 2015

BBC – Venezuela and Colombia to normalise ties after border row – 22 September 2015

Financial Times – Colombia and Venezuela ease tensions – 22 September 2015

Fox News Latino – After month-long border dispute, Colombia and Venezuela agree to redeploy ambassadors – 22 September 2015

Times – Colombia and Venezuela Agree to Normalize Relations After Border Dispute – 22 September 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

BOGOTA, Colombia — According to Colombia Reports, the Colombian government and representatives from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, are close to reaching an agreement. FARC is a paramilitary organization that has been active in Colombia since 1964. The differences between the group and successive Colombian regimes has led to decades of violence that has claimed over 260,000 lives.

A communique from FARC’s website said that “Peace is knocking at the door of Colombia, and it requires that the armed conflict should be left behind, as something that should not be repeated anymore, to ensure the peaceful future and decent life of the new generations of Colombians.”

One of the issues on the table is the finalization of negotiations regarding victims’ reparations.

FARC also called for the “urgent” dismantle of the “phenomenon of paramilitarism.” The government also supported this. Interior Minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, speaking at a university forum in Tunja, said that FARC could support and defend their ideas, without violence, within the context of Colombian democracy as an official political party.

The final agreement would include a process for the integration of the paramilitaries into political society.

Last week the government presented a “constitutional reform for peace”, which would allow the implementation of a number of agreements reached between the two parties throughout the course of the negotiations.

FARC opposed the reform, instead calling for a Constituent Assembly. The government’s plan already has wide support from Congress, but does not have support from the rebels (who are not represented in Congress).

In his prayers during a historical visit to Cuba this past Sunday, Pope Francis said that “we do not have the right to allow ourselves yet another failure on this path of peace and reconciliation.”

In order to facilitate the peace talks, FARC declared a cease-fire on July 20, and then reaffirmed the cease-fire on August 20. The cease-fire was one sided, and Colombian forces continued to execute operations against the paramilitary’s positions in the country.

Peace talks between the two groups have been ongoing in Havana, Cuba since November of 2012. The two sides are working towards a bilateral peace agreement.

 

For more information, please see:

Prensa Latina – FARC-EP for Progress in Peace Conversations – 17 September 2015 

TeleSur – FARC Closer to Becoming a Legal Political Movement – 17 September 2015

Colombia Reports – Rebels on verge of reaching transitional justice agreement with Colombia govt: FARC – 18 September 2015

InNews – Colombia: Government Welcomes FARC Stance on Dropping Weapons – 18 September 2015

Sputnik News – UN Continues Contribution to Colombia-FARC Peace Talks – 18 September 2015

The Guardian – Pope Francis prays for peace in Colombia – 20 September 2015

SANTIAGO, Chile — A massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit Chile on Wednesday.  The powerful quake in Chile’s central region forced over a million people out of their homes.  At least ten people died when the quake hit and one person is still missing.

Horror struck as residents of Illapel’s homes began to sway and they ran into the streets.  Illapel is an area near the quake’s epicentre.  Coastal towns like Coquimbo recorded waves as high as 4.7m (15ft) hitting the shore after the quake, resulting in a Tsunami alert for the entire Chilean coast.  The alert has since been lifted.

The earthquake hit at 6:45 pm and lasted for more than three minutes.  There have been more than a dozen aftershocks.  According to the U.S. Geological survey the earthquake was the largest to hit that location in over 100 years.  Gloria Navarro, a dweller in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were “running in all directions”.

Officials said that 1,800 people in Illapel were without drinking water.  Electricity providers said hundreds of thousands of their clients in the worst-affected Coquimbo region had no power.

This Chilean earthquake was five times more energetic that the quake that devastated Nepal in April.  However, early inclinations show that the death toll will be a fraction of what it was in Nepal.  Why?  This is the third massive quake in five years, Chile often experiences quakes this massive.  To protect and prepare the country, the building codes are very strict and well enforced and the citizens are knowledgeable about how to react during an earthquake.

After the massive 8.8 quake in 2010, the Chilean government put millions into upgrading the country’s seismic network of sensors, and made improvements to telecommunications systems that share critical information and warnings.

President Bachelet said that “once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature”.  She will travel to the affected areas later on Thursday.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Chile quake triggers mass evacuation and tsunami alert – 17 Sept. 2015

The Telegraph – Chile earthquake in pictures: 8.3 magnitude quake triggers tsunami warning – 17 Sept. 2015

theguardian – Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – live updates – 17 Sept. 2015

NBC News – One Million Evacuated As Huge Quake Strikes Off Chile Coast – 17 Sept. 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s crackdown on its border with Colombia has extended to a third state. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he extended the state of emergency to an additional 10 provinces on Tuesday evening. As of now, border crossings in the Venezuelan states of Tachira, Zulia and Apure have closed, with Apure’s closing occurring Wednesday morning.

Some 18,000 of over 5 million Colombians living in Venezuela have crossed the border and returned to Colombia during the month long crisis. Some claim that they were beaten by Venezuelan security forces before crossing rivers to leave the country. Many feared reprisals from the Venezuelan government if they stayed.

The crisis began about a month ago, when Maduro closed a number of border crossings and deported 1,400 Colombians as part of an anti-corruption operation. Maduro has blamed Colombians in the country for Venezuela’s economic woes – the country has been in recession for some time.

Historically, the Venezuelan/Colombian border has been a hotbed of illegal activity, with smuggling and guerilla activity flourishing in the region. Both illegal smuggling and legal trade have suffered due to the border closures.

The declaration of a state of emergency in Venezuela suspends certain constitutional rights, and allows homes to be searched without a warrant.

Throughout the course of the crisis, diplomatic ties between the two countries have worsened, with Colombia recalling its ambassador from Caracas, and the Venezuelan ambassador leaving Bogota shortly after. Tensions rose significantly last week after Colombia claimed that Venezuelan military jets crossed into Colombian airspace. Venezuela has denied the claim.

Maduro and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have each separately called for meetings to discuss the border crisis, and both have expressed willingness to discuss the issue.  Ecuador and Uruguay are currently working to broker a meeting.

A “humanitarian corridor” has been created which will allow Colombian children in Venezuela to attend school in Colombia. Work has also been done to facilitate the reunification of families split by the crisis.

 

For more information, please see:

Voice of America – Poll: Nearly Half of Colombians Fear Venezuela War Over Border Crisis – 15 September 2015

BBC – Venezuela extends state of emergency to third border state – 16 September 2015

Reuters – Colombia’s president says Venezuela gestures could solve border spat – 16 September 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Colombia’s Leader Says He’d Meet with Venezuela to Resolve Crisis – 16 September 2015

New Zealand Herald – Venezuela extends border crackdown to 3rd state – 17 September 2015