Focus on victims
Are we “handing the country to terrorists”? That question seems to be driving the fear of those who have campaigned against the peace process, followed by the conviction that rebels deserve full legal punishment, proportional to the atrocities they committed.
I was born in times of war, both here and there. My “here” back then was Colombia. It has gradually become my “there” now that I live in exile, and while war appears to be spreading to unexpected places, Colombia seems to be taking another path. But it’s not quite there yet.
The process will be long, and even though it has already started, there seem to be as many obstacles as proponents in the big battle for peace. There is much more than the official signatures on an accord. On Sunday, Colombians are being asked to vote “Yes” or “No” to the peace deal in a referendum that aims to put the final touch to the end of the civil war.
The big step was taken in 2012 by the two main actors of our current conflict (the government of Colombia and FARC rebels) when they decided to sit down, and to talk.
