In the long run any proposal would need to pass not a referendum, then the Colombian and US militaries and the US government which is the puppet master. Also as the article points out, there has been only been 1 agreement reached in 13 rounds of talks and a agreement may not be reached before the elections in 2014 ...Cort Santos Proposes Referendum on FARC Peace Agreement<http://www.panamericanpost.blogspot.com/2013/08/santos-proposes-referendum-on-farc.html> Although talks between FARC rebels and the Colombian government have made little progress since they first began in October, President Juan Manuel Santos has announced that he wants to put the terms of a peace treaty up for popular vote.
Yesterday, Santos announced he will submit a bill (El Espectador<http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/referendo-paz-ya-fue-radicado-el-congreso-articulo-441804> has its full text) to Congress which would allow an eventual peace agreement to be approved via a referendum. Although the countrys laws prohibit referendums to be linked to general elections, Santos is seeking an exception which would tie it to either the upcoming legislative election in March or the presidential election in May. According to El Pais<http://www.elpais.com.co/elpais/colombia/noticias/referendo-por-paz-debate-apenas-comienza>, this is in order to allow the referendum a chance to receive the 7.5 million votes (25 percent of the electorate) it needs to be approved. President Santos claimed<http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/08/22/world/americas/22reuters-colombia-rebels.html?ref=world> passing the bill was a matter of urgency. If we reach agreements and reach them by the end of the year as we all want, and don't have any way to have a referendum, it would be gravely irresponsible to not have foreseen this possibility, he said. The announcement was backed by the National Unity coalition<http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/apoyo-de-unidad-nacional-al-referendo-paz-articulo-441859>, the umbrella group of major parties which support Santos, which means lawmakers will likely pass the measure without much debate. Colombias W Radio<http://www.wradio.com.co/noticias/actualidad/referendo-de-paz-indica-que-proceso-con-las-farc-va-en-serio-presidente-del-congreso/20130822/nota/1956002.aspx> reports that it may even be signed into law by November. The notion of holding a referendum on the peace agreement is not new. The administration first floated the idea in January, in response to the FARCs calls for a constituent assembly<http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Prensa/2013/Enero/Paginas/20130116_04.aspx>. While the guerrilla group is still openly against<http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/nacional/referendo-para-validar-acuerdo-es-tecnicamente-imposible-farc-123383> organizing a referendum, doing so makes plenty of sense. In addition to involving the general public in the peace process, it provides an immediate incentive for the FARC to adapt to democratic politics, as the guerrillas would have to make their demands acceptable to not only the government, but to the general public as well. * * *There are, however, questions about the timing of Santos announcement. Because the two parties have only come to an agreement on one of five points after thirteen rounds of talks in Havana, it seems unrealistic to expect a full-fledged peace treaty to be hashed out by next March. Semana magazine<http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/referendo-para-paz-pero-donde-esta-acuerdo/354911-3> reports that lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Pole party have voiced concerns that Santos announcement may be an attempt to put pressure on the rebels to speed up negotiations. The partys leadership has requested a meeting with Santos before they take a position on the referendum, in order to determine how advanced the conversations are with the FARC.* http://www.panamericanpost.blogspot.com/2013/08/santos-proposes-referendum-on-farc.html * * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/ Aug 23, 2013 FARC suspends peace talks with Colombian governmentposted by Marcus Sales [image: FARC suspends peace talks with Colombian government]<http://colombiareports.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/pablo_catatumbo.jpg> [image: Share Button] <http://www.hupso.com/share/> <http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=twitter&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/><http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=facebook&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/><http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=googleplus&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/><http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=linkedin&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/><http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=stumbleupon&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/><http://www.hupso.com/share/add.php?service=reddit&title=FARC%20suspends%20peace%20talks%20with%20Colombian%20government&url=http://colombiareports.co/farc-take-break-peace-talks/> Rebel group FARC announced on Friday that they are suspending ongoing peace talks with Colombias government to study a proposal on a referendum sealing an eventual peace deal. Rebel negotiator Pablo Catatumbo read a statement from Havana in which he claims the rebel group needs time to assess a bill proposed on Thursday by President Juan Manuel Santos, which seeks a change in the law allowing for a referendum on a potential peace agreement to be held simultaneously with the 2014 presidential or congressional elections. *MORE:* Referendum On Potential Peace Agreement With FARC To Coincide With 2014 Elections<http://colombiareports.co/colombias-citizens-vote-peace-agreement-march-may/> The peace delegation of the FARC-EP has decided to pause discussions at the negotiating table, to focus exclusively on the analysis of the scope of the governments proposal, said Catatumbo. This needs to be done in private within the organisation, added the rebel negotiator. The guerrilla group had previously proposed the creation of a national constituent assembly, which would allow the negotiators of the government and the guerrillas to come to agreements currently beyond constitutional law. This was rejected by the government. *MORE: *Santos rejects FARC proposal to hold constituent assembly<http://colombiareports.co/santos-rejects-farc-proposal-to-hold-constituent-assembly/> The FARC-EP proposed convening a national constituent assembly to be the sovereign who decides on the crucial issues of political, economic and social development of all Colombians, explained Catatumbo. We also said that the constituent assembly, convened under the auspices of a large national political agreement would be the way to achieve a real peace treaty, fair and binding, highlighting our reconciliation, to govern the fate of the nation and channeled towards the summits of real democracy, added the rebel. Catatumbo thus criticized the governments announcement, stating that no procedures in relation to the referendum were released by the government. In contrast, the government yesterday announced its decision to use a referendum as a mechanism of endorsement, with no mention of the democratic procedures that would need to be endorsed. Catatumbo also criticized the timing of the governments announcement, which coincided with multi sector strikes against the government. This comes at a time when all corners of Colombia hear the screams of unhappy people protesting against the disastrous economic policies of the government, added the rebel negotiator. Rebel group FARC and the government have been involved in peace talks since November in order to seek a negotiated end to the internal conflict. While an accord has been reached regarding land reform, no agreements have been made on the issue of the FARCs political participation, drug trafficking, the practicalities of the end of the armed conflict and the rights of the victims. Sources - DELEGACIÓN DE PAZ DE LAS FARC-EP HA DECIDIDO HACER UNA PAUSA EN LA DISCUSIÓN DE LA MESA<http://pazfarc-ep.org/index.php/noticias-comunicados-documentos-farc-ep/delegacion-de-paz-farc-ep/1427-delegacion-de-paz-de-las-farc-ep-ha-decidido-hacer-una-pausa-en-la-discusion-de-la-mesa.html> (FARC-EP) FARC <http://colombiareports.co/tag/farc/> featured<http://colombiareports.co/tag/featured/> government <http://colombiareports.co/tag/government/> peace talks<http://colombiareports.co/tag/peace-talks-2/> political participation<http://colombiareports.co/tag/political-participation/> Comments http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html PEACE DELEGATION ANNOUNCES PAUSE IN PEACE TALKS - font size [image: decrease font size] <http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#>[image: increase font size] <http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> - Print <http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html?tmpl=component&print=1> - Email <http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&template=gk_twn2&link=1b8f29e5d9afdfc1b0e03ee8f19c1164ea5ea944> - Be the first to comment!<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#itemCommentsAnchor> Rate this item - - 1<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> - 2<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> - 3<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> - 4<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> - 5<http://www.farc-epeace.org/index.php/communiques/communiques-peace-delegation/item/134-peace-delegation-announces-pause-in-peace-talks.html#> (0 votes) [image: Commander Pablo Catatumbo]<http://www.farc-epeace.org/media/k2/items/cache/62fb5f1024529266c6e71c0c0c9ddb3c_XL.jpg>Commander Pablo Catatumbo Peace Delegation FARCEP *Havana, Cuba, site of the peace talks, August 23, 2013* >From the beginning of the peace process with the government of Colombia in Havana, our primary concern has been to open the doors to people's participation for the construction of a democratic peace agreement with social justice. Apropos of this, and because of the importance for the country and for the future of our country of the issue of the resolution of the social and armed conflict, starting from the establishment of social justice, democracy and sovereignty, in a responsible and well-considered way, the FARC-EP proposed convening a National Constituent Assembly so that the sovereign people can decide on the crucial issues of political, economic and social development of all Colombians. We also said that the Constituent Assembly, convened under the auspices of a large national political agreement would be the way to achieve a real peace treaty, just and binding, which could melt our reconciliation, govern the fate of the nation and lead it towards the summits of real democracy. In contrast, the government yesterday announced to the country its decision to appeal to the referendum as a mechanism for countersignature, without mentioning at all the procedures of democratic construction which would endorse it. Under these new circumstances, at a moment in which from all the corners of Colombia you can hear the outcry of unsatisfied people, protesting against the consequences of a disastrous economic policy, behind the back of the interests of the great majority of citizens and which requires their participation in the decision-making of major national issues, the Peace Delegation of the FARC-EP has decided to pause the discussion of the Table, to focus exclusively on the analysis of the government's proposal, without detriment to the internal consultation we have to carry out as organization. We will use this time also to listen to points-of-views, which will surely arise among the people in the fervor of political and social struggle that makes Colombia shudder today. Colombia's peace is everybody's business. PEACE DELEGATION FARC-EP [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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