Former Farc rebels take seats in Colombia congress

President Santos speaking at the opening of the new Congress (20/07/2018) Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption President Santos was once awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to finish the warfare with the Farc

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has welcomed former Farc rebels as they took their seats at the starting session of parliament.

He stated he was glad to look ex-rebels who fought the state for over five decades now respecting the constitution.

The new members of congress took up their seats on Friday as a part of the peace deal reached in 2016.

The president advised his successor, Ivan Duque, to shield peace in Colombia.

“Lately we’re witnessing a true milestone in our history,” said Mr Santos, who ends his term in place of work next month.

The Farc, or Progressive Military of Colombia, is now a political birthday party referred to as the Progressive Alternative Commonplace Pressure.

It has five seats within the Senate and 5 in the Area of Representatives.

‘Atrocious crimes’

But rebel commander Ivan Marquez declined to take in his specified seat in protest at the detention of a fellow former rise up leader, Jesus Santrich, who also has a congressional seat reserved for him.

He is needed through the united states on drug trafficking charges.

President-select Duque wants to save you former rebels from sitting in congress until they are investigated and pay for crimes they are going to have committed in the course of the civil warfare.

the former president, Alvaro Uribe, who heads Mr Duque’s Democratic Centre Birthday Celebration, condemned their presence in parliament.

In a tweet, he defined a “Congress with folks convicted of atrocious crimes, without paying reparations, without pleasing symbolic sanctions”.

Analysts say the previous rebels is not going to be welcomed through many in Congress, but imagine that President-choose Duque will in finding it very tough to make really extensive changes to the peace agreement.

The 2016 deal was once ratified by means of Congress and Mr Santos was offered the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing it approximately.

Leave a Reply