As a result
of a very close election outcome (50.2% no, 49.8% si) the peace deal between
the president and Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC, that was signed last Monday,
has been invalidated. This happened against all predictions. The peace deal was
seen as a significant step towards overcoming an outdated movement that was bothering
the country for more than 60 years. One of the factors that impelled people to vote
“no” was the granted amnesty for the majority of the rebels and reduced
sentences for higher war criminals.
The people
that were hoping for a “yes” in the ballot are devastated. The newspapers have
already been forecasting an economic boom regarding tourism and for people
directly living in the affected areas it would have meant the end of
uncertainty and fear. Refusing to make peace with an organization that is
considered as terroristic by the USA, Canada and all EU member states is a
conclusive sign. Nevertheless, it is also remarkable that only 37% of the
population perceived the necessity to go and vote on an issue that is
influencing Colombian’s everyday politics. I think that the impression, that
the rebels are tired of fighting themselves, makes a lot of people think that
they cannot accept a compromise.
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