The crucial role of media in Colombia’s peace negotiations

The nearly two-year-old peace talks between the Colombian Government, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - FARC -, have been subject of continuous criticism by the media, the opposition, and basically everyone else, because of the confusions caused by the lack of communications on the topic. Why?

At the beginning of the negotiations, the delegations from the Government and FARC agreed to maintain absolute confidentiality on the conversations and agreements concerted in the table in order to safeguard the continuity of the process. The secrecy of the negotiations generated multiple speculations about it. Therefore, media outlets, willingly or not, distorted the information about the peace process.

In addition, opposition figures, including former President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, constantly alleged that the talks were too secretive, and his questionings about the process, among other criticism, divided opinion in Colombia.  

Former President and now
Senator of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe

Many have been the efforts of the Colombian Government to solve the communication problems of the peace talks during this past two years in order to neutralize the polarization of the Country. Recently, President Juan Manuel Santos announced the disclosure of the first three points of the agenda in order to give transparency to the process. As mentioned earlier, “details of the agreements had previously been kept under wraps to protect the negotiations”, said President Santos.

Taking in account that this is the closest that Colombians have ever been to a real possibility of achieving the so desired peace, the role of the media is more crucial than ever, by providing accurate information about the process and teaching their audiences about such complicated topic.

Other efforts, such as that done by the Gabriel García Márquez Foundation for Good Journalism - FNPI -, in support to the Office of the Peace Commissioner have also been important. The FNPI, aware of the uttermost importance of the media in the process, has been implementing a program for journalists that cover the peace process offering insights, guidelines and tools for a better understanding of the dynamics of the peace talks in Cuba. Currently, more than 450 journalists have been taught how to analyze and communicate properly the available information about this issue.

Sergio Jaramillo, High Commissioner for Peace and
Jaime Abello, FNPI Director

Because of the complexities of the peace process and the current polarized political scenario created by those who support Santos and those who support Uribe, it’s of uttermost importance that journalist concentrate on delivering to the public the most accurate facts possible and analysi

Insights on the Colombian peace talks

After more than 50 years of internal war, 600.000 deaths and more than 4.5 million victims, Colombians, lead by President Juan Manuel Santos, attempt to resolve its internal conflict through a new negotiation settlement with the guerrilla rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

This historical moment came after numerous efforts from different governments to seize the existing conflict both through the military and the negotiated way. In this case, the Government of Colombia has managed to sit once more with the FARC on a five-point peace agenda. This agenda was agreed to be discussed under strict rules such as: 

• The negotiations will be held under military action in the Colombian territory, which means there will be no disarmament of either parts, and the Colombian Army will be defending the territory as always.

• The conversations will be held outside Colombia in order to maintain them in reserve. There will be no discussion with the media or any other on what's going on the negotiation table.

• There will be no unlimited time for the negotiations. The length will be subject to revision throughout the advances in time.

• The process has a clear three-phase structure.

• The conversations will be held under the principle of "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed".

• The Colombian citizens will be the ones to agree whether they accept or not the agreement through a referendum.

PHASE 1 – The Exploratory Phase

The first phase of the process began in August 2010 lead by Sergio Jaramillo, High Commissioner for Peace of the Republic of Colombia, and a team of respectful civilians. This exploratory phase, that lasted two years, set up the conditions of the agreement with the FARC. As a result, a document called the "General Agreement for the End of the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace" was signed at the beginning of September 2012.

Foto: www.mesadeconversaciones.com

This agreement consists of a five point agenda and it's implementation. The topics are:

• Land reform
• Political participation
• Drug trafficking
• Victims rights
• Disarmament
• The last discussion will be on the verification, implementation and referendum mechanism.

The Agreement was signed in Oslo with delegates of the Republic of Norway, Cuba, Venezuela and Chile who have been chosen to serve as guarantors of the process. Currently the negotiation is being held in the Habana, Cuba.

PHASE 2 – The End of Conflict 

On September 4, 2012, President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the Country through National Television revealing, to the Colombians and the World, the beginning of the peace talks with the FARC rebels.   Unfortunately there is no English version on President Santo's declaration, but you can watch the original Spanish version here .

Foto: www.presidencia.gov.co

Today, the first three points of the agenda regarding land reform, political participation and drug trafficking have already been agreed. The two remaining points related to the rights of victims and the disarmament of the rebels are currently being discussed in parallel. If the negotiators are capable of solving these two last issues, they will then have to discuss the implementation of the peace deal. At the end, Colombians will have the right to decide if they want to implement it or not through a referendum.

Though President Juan Manuel Santos expected this negotiation process to last no more than a year, the conversations are still begin held in Cuba.

PHASE 3 – Peace Construction

The last phase will be the implementation of the Agreement. This stage could last at least 10 years, and it's an opportunity to make the necessary changes that Colombia needs.

More information on the Peace Talks:

The Government’s official information about the peace process has not yet been translated to English. In this page you will find the information in Spanish www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co and in www.mesadeconversaciones.com

BBC News: Q&A about the Colombian peace talks http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19875363