San
Francisco de la Sombra Accord, October 5, 2001
[Español]
Accord of San Fransisco
de la Sombra, October 5, 2001
ACCORD OF SAN FRANSISCO
DE LA SOMBRA TO DEFINE AND CONSOLIDATE THE PEACE PROCESS
In the rural area
of the municipality of San Vicente del Caguán, meeting together,
on behalf of the National Government, the High Commissioner for Peace
Camilo Gómez and the Special Advisor Juan Gabriel Uribe, and on
behalf of the FARC-EP its Commander in Chief Manuel Marulanda Vélez,
and its Negotiation Representatives Raúl Reyes, Joaquín
Gómez, Simón Trinidad, Carlos Antonio Lozada, Andrés
Paris and the Commanders Jorge Briceño and Iván Rios, considering:
A. That a negotiated
political solution to the social and military conflict is the adequate
venue to resolve the crisis that the country is currently undergoing and
constitutes the greatest national goal.
B. That the peace process requires an atmosphere without military confrontation
between the actors.
C. That the actual levels of confrontation make reaching agreements indispensable
for the lessening of the conflict.
D. That the government emphatically and categorically reiterates its rejection
of any kind of abduction, be it of members of Congress, public servants
or any other person and within the study of the truce with cease-fire
and cessation of hostilities the government will expound it as a priority.
E. That we are conscious of our historic responsibility to the people
of Colombia who, amid difficulties and sacrifice, maintain their faith
and the hope of living in a country in peace with social justice, to overcome
the great economic, political and social disparities that keep Colombians
in conflict.
F. That throughout the process we have been able to create valuable instruments
to obtain these objectives. The most fundamental: The Common Agenda for
Change for a New Colombia.
That we understand
that this is a critical moment that requires definitions, contributions
and without a doubt, a new dynamic for the dialogue and negotiation process.
WE AGREE:
1. To immediately
undertake the integral study of the document of recommendations presented
by the "Notables Commission", that contains items such a truce
with cease-fire and cessation of hostilities, kidnappings, actions for
ending the paramilitary phenomenon and the eventual creation of a National
Constituent Assembly, without detriment to the Common Agenda.
The actors highly value the remaining instruments that enrich their work
and that are being discussed at the negotiation table.
2. In this new phase, we consider it of vital importance to invite the
presidential candidates and the political movements and parties to discuss
the aforementioned subjects, give their contributions to the current process
and exchange ideas about the current political moment of the country.
3. In the same respect, The Negotiating Table will invite different sectors
of the national community so that they make contributions to the process.
4. The Negotiating Table will invite the National Council for Peace to
carry out an exchange of opinions covering the same topics.
5. The Negotiating Table will intensify its work and in its first meeting
will develop a timetable for the analysis of the mentioned documents and
for the development of the described activities. A monthly evaluation
will be carried out assessing the advances obtained in the discussion
of the topics mentioned and public opinion will be informed in this respect
without prejudices by the mechanisms of information agreed upon before.
6. We reiterate that the distension zone has as its sole purpose to promote
dialogue and negotiation.
WE RATIFY:
A. That the only
authority in this zone is exercised by the mayors, democratically elected,
and the remaining municipal public servants without prejudices as exercised
by the National Government. In the same way the FARC ratifies its commitment
to respect them.
B. That the mayors of the zone, along with the civic police and the
police inspectors, exercise policing functions and the FARC ratifies
its commitment to respect them.
C. In the Demilitarized Zone all the candidates, just as the inhabitants
of these five municipalities, may carry out their political and electoral
activities.
D. The Negotiating Table will promote in conjunction with the mayors
of the Demilitarized Zone, the execution of open meetings which will
allow the inhabitants of the zone to manifest their opinions, and to
which observers may be invited.
7. The above is expressed
without detriment to the faculties that correspond to the President in
relation to the Demilitarized Zone.
8. The FARC expresses and ratifies that the so-called "pescas milagrosas"
[kidnapping at roadblocks] on the national highways, are not part of their
policy. In this sense, the FARC will give instructions to all of its members
not to carry out this type of activity.
9. The signatories of the accord call on all Colombians to maintain their
pledge for a political solution to the conflict in Colombia.
October 5, 2001
Signing:
For the National
Government
Camilo Gómez Alzate
High Commissioner for Peace
Juan Gabriel Uribe
Special Advisor
For the FARC-EP
Manuel Marulanda Vélez
Commander in Chief of the FARC-EP
Representatives of the FARC-EP
Raúl Reyes
Joaquin Gómez
Simón Trinidad
Andrés París
Carlos Antonio Lozada
Commanders
Jorge Briceño
Iván Rios
