Colombians take to streets to support FARC peace deal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Al Jazeera News And News Agencies

Colombians take to streets to support FARC peace deal

Thousands of people march in Bogota and elsewhere calling on the government and FARC rebels to save a peace deal.

1 hour ago





Peace activists marched through the capital Bogota in support of the FARC deal (John Vizcaino/Reuters)




Thousands of people have marched in cities across Colombia to demand a peace deal between the government and leftist rebels not be scuttled.

Wednesday's demonstrations marked the second time in a week that Colombians took to the streets to support the accord signed last month with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and now hanging by a thread after a shock referendum defeat for the deal.

"We have seen hundreds of representatives of indigenous groups, Afro-Colombians and other groups of minorities who walked through Bogota demanding peace," Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from the capital Bogota, said.

"They were marching together with students, victims of the conflict and just regular families."

Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/colombians-streets-support-farc-peace-deal-161013034609165.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia Social Movements Demand Supreme Court Cancel 'No' Vote

Colombia Social Movements Demand Supreme Court Cancel 'No' Vote
Published 12 October 2016


Last week, former senator Juan Carlos Velez Uribe from ex-President Alvaro Uribe's party admitted the "No" campaign's strategy was rooted in deception.

Social movements appealed to the country's Supreme Court and demanded the cancellation of the plebiscite that resulted in a victory for the "No" campaign against peace, which was signed between the government and FARC rebels on Sept. 26, 2016.

Among those involved in the grassroots campaign are Red de Veedurias Ciudadanas, or Network of Citizen Oversight, who have asked the Supreme Court to cancel the result following recent revelations that “No” campaigners carried out a deceptive campaign.

Last week, former senator Juan Carlos Velez Uribe, from far-right Democratic Center —ex-President Alvaro Uribe's party— told La Republica that the campaign's strategy focused on “distorting messages” and not "explaining the agreements" with the goal of ensuring "people go out to vote angrily."

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Colombia-Social-Movements-Demand-Supreme-Court-Cancel-No-Vote-20161012-0027.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thousands of Colombians march in support of FARC peace deal

Thousands of Colombians march in support of FARC peace deal

Posted about 3 hours ago



Photo: The rally in Plaza Bolivar in Bogota. (Reuters: John Vizcaino)





. . .

The march on the Plaza Bolivar, adjacent to the congress and presidential palace, appeared to be larger than last week's rally, in a sign of how Colombians have been jolted into action by the fading prospects for peace.

In recent days, the Plaza has been overtaken by dozens of tents set up by die-hard peace activists and on Tuesday was blanketed with a giant, white shroud containing the names of almost 2,000 victims of the conflict stencilled in ash.

Mr Santos applauded the outburst of activism and reiterated the need to seek a quick solution to the impasse so that a ceasefire in place does not unravel.

"The great majority of people have asked me to find a solution soon because uncertainty is the enemy," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-13/thousands-of-colombians-march-in-support-of-peace-deal/7929132

[rpannier]

3. Should have taken to the streets and voted