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Colombia government and Farc rebels to set up truth commission | Colombia government and Farc rebels to set up truth commission |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have agreed to set up a truth commission to investigate the deaths of thousands of people in five decades of conflict. | The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have agreed to set up a truth commission to investigate the deaths of thousands of people in five decades of conflict. |
They have agreed to hear the demands of victims, who will travel to Cuba, where the peace talks are taking place. | They have agreed to hear the demands of victims, who will travel to Cuba, where the peace talks are taking place. |
The announcement is being seen as a significant step towards peace. | The announcement is being seen as a significant step towards peace. |
Some 220,000 people, many of them civilians, are estimated to have died in the conflict. | |
"The rights of the victims are non-negotiable," says a statement released in Havana. | "The rights of the victims are non-negotiable," says a statement released in Havana. |
The document lays out 10 points that will be the basis for discussions in the next round of talks, focusing on the victims of the conflict. | The document lays out 10 points that will be the basis for discussions in the next round of talks, focusing on the victims of the conflict. |
It says that the "victims must be recognised not only in their position as victims, but as citizens with rights". | It says that the "victims must be recognised not only in their position as victims, but as citizens with rights". |
The "victims of human rights abuses" have the right to the truth, justice, compensation and the guarantee that such violations will never happen again, says the document. | The "victims of human rights abuses" have the right to the truth, justice, compensation and the guarantee that such violations will never happen again, says the document. |
Victims of the conflict and their relatives will go to Havana, apparently in the near future, to share their experiences. | Victims of the conflict and their relatives will go to Havana, apparently in the near future, to share their experiences. |
The acknowledgment by the guerrillas that there were victims in the conflict has been seen in Colombia as a historic statement, says the BBC's Arturo Wallace in Bogota. | The acknowledgment by the guerrillas that there were victims in the conflict has been seen in Colombia as a historic statement, says the BBC's Arturo Wallace in Bogota. |
The left-wing rebels and the government have so far rejected allegations of human rights abuses and blamed each other for the deaths and the displacement of at least 3 million people. | The left-wing rebels and the government have so far rejected allegations of human rights abuses and blamed each other for the deaths and the displacement of at least 3 million people. |
"Today is a special day. The day of the victims has arrived. We have made a huge step. The Havana process is not simply a closed door conversation about clashes," said government negotiator Humberto de la Calle. | "Today is a special day. The day of the victims has arrived. We have made a huge step. The Havana process is not simply a closed door conversation about clashes," said government negotiator Humberto de la Calle. |
"Each day we feel closer to the mountaintop, to the Mount Everest of rights, which is peace. Without that no other rights are possible," said rebel negotiator Ivan Marquez. | "Each day we feel closer to the mountaintop, to the Mount Everest of rights, which is peace. Without that no other rights are possible," said rebel negotiator Ivan Marquez. |
Peace and impunity | Peace and impunity |
The peace process launched by President Juan Manuel Santos in November 2012 is one of the most controversial issues in the debate ahead of Sunday's presidential election. | The peace process launched by President Juan Manuel Santos in November 2012 is one of the most controversial issues in the debate ahead of Sunday's presidential election. |
Mr Santos has vowed to carry on negotiating with the left-wing rebels if he is elected to a second term. | Mr Santos has vowed to carry on negotiating with the left-wing rebels if he is elected to a second term. |
His rival in the run-off vote, right-wing candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, initially said he was willing to put an end to the talks. | His rival in the run-off vote, right-wing candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, initially said he was willing to put an end to the talks. |
But he is now saying that the government would proceed with the negotiations provided the Farc accepted tougher conditions. | But he is now saying that the government would proceed with the negotiations provided the Farc accepted tougher conditions. |
There will be no "peace with impunity," said Mr Zuluaga. | There will be no "peace with impunity," said Mr Zuluaga. |
The presidential election has become for many a referendum on the validity of the peace process, says our correspondent. | The presidential election has become for many a referendum on the validity of the peace process, says our correspondent. |
There has been agreement on three of the six points in the agenda being negotiated in Cuba: land reform, political participation and illicit drugs. | There has been agreement on three of the six points in the agenda being negotiated in Cuba: land reform, political participation and illicit drugs. |
The talks now enter a new phase with the debate on the rights of the victims. | The talks now enter a new phase with the debate on the rights of the victims. |
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