"Colombia is at a crossroad and the next few months will determine whether the country can turn the page and put behind nearly five decades of civil war."
- Anastasia Moloney, Thomson Reuters Foundation Correspondent.
Every week, Thomson Reuters Foundation correspondents offer distilled insight on pressing issues. Two-Minute Talking Points bring you concise commentary from the front lines of humanitarian crises, climate change, corruption and human rights.
This year is make or break for Colombia.
At the moment, the Colombian government and the country’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC, in Havana, they are trying to end nearly 50 years’ of war.
It’s not going to be easy. It’s not the first time of the FARC and the government has tried to sign a peace deal in three previous attempts.
The two sides this time have agreed a five point agenda. Part of that is how FARC could participate in politics in the future, will they recognize their contribution to the drug trade, and what they compensate their victims.
While peace talks continue, in Colombia the fight continues. There is no ceasefire. That means the government’s military offense against the FARC continues the rebels, also the solders. All this shows it is hard to produce a climate of peace.
Every Colombian I spoke to wants peace, but a few are willing to bet they will sign a peace deal this year. The Government said they want a peace deal by November, but the FARC said there’s not deadline – they can stay in the deal table and negotiate indefinitely.
Colombia is at a crossroads and the next few months will be crucial to see whether the country can turn the page and put behind nearly five decades of civil war.
Filming: Claudine Boeglin
Editing: Shanshan Chen
Design: Ye Li
