(7 Jan 1999) Spanish/Nat
Colombian President Andres Pastrana went ahead with peace talks Thursday despite the failure of rebel leader Manuel Marulanda to attend.
The opening ceremony, attended by dignitaries and international press, took place in San Vicente del Caguan – in an area controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Colombians hopes are high that the talks can end a 34-year-old conflict which claims thousands of lives every year.
No agenda has yet been set but peace talks between rebels and state officials are now underway.
The talks were ceremoniously launched Thursday by Colombia’s president Andres Pastrana and members of the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia.
But there was dismay when the FARC’s legendary leader Manuel Marulanda failed to turn up.
The venue, San Vicente del Caguan, stands in the heart of a region demilitarised by the government in a deal to facilitate the talks.
Marulanda’s failure to attend has been perceived as a snub to the peace process though FARC rebels claim rumours of attempts to kill him were to blame.
Pastrana and senior government officials had met with him last year, to persuade him to enter the table for talks.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"What has been done today is very important because it’s the beginning of what could be peace talks. If there’s political willingness to invest on social causes and to fight the causes of the conflict it is possible to reach a long-lasting peace."
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Raul Reyes, FARC representative
Visiting officials included the Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, renowned author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Nicaragua’s Sandinista, Daniel Ortega.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Days before the meeting it was already known that the presence of Commander Marulanda had not been confirmed. So, it’s not a surprise. But the most important thing here is that he sent us a message, that the FARC’s representatives were there, the commissions were set up and therefore today the commitment to work for peace was ratified and that’s the most important thing that has happened today."
SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan Sandinista Leader
And several senior politicians were also on hand to support this important chapter in Colombia’s search for peace.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"As a Colombian, I would have really liked him (Marulanda) to be here… this character who’s becoming more and more of a legend in this country. We would’ve liked him to be here because this is a historic moment, but the moment will come. I know that all these fears and suspicions that still exist will be overcome and that one day we’ll be all together at this table, hopefully sooner rather than later."
SUPER CAPTION: Maria Emma Mejia, Member of government peace commission and former Foreign Minister
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Those who don’t want this peace process were going to kill him (Marulanda) today.
Q. Who are these people?
A. This country’s supporters of the army.
Q. You mean the military?
A. Some of them, not all.
Q. And the paramilitaries?
A. They too, it’s the same thing.
Q. A lot of people say this is a show of disregard for Colombians.
A. No, it’s not a disregard. We’d rather have him alive than dead."
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Fabian Ramirez, FARC Representative
But the bloody conflict these talks aim to end, continues.
Three days ago a child and two police officers were killed here, in the town of Puerto Bello, during a FARC attack on local military barracks.
Few question the difficult nature of these talks.
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