Colombians vote on FARC deal after polarised campaign

Polls suggest peace agreement with armed group will be ratified, but Santos government not taking victory for granted.

Colombians head to the polls to decide whether or not to support a peace deal with the country’s largest rebel group to end five decades of fighting.

Surveys taken before Sunday’s referendum – in which voters will be asked if they want to ratify or reject the deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC – show the “yes” side is favoured by an almost two-to-one margin.

Forgiveness key to Colombia peace deal’s future

But the Colombian government is not taking victory for granted amid a highly polarised campaign that has exposed how steep a challenge it faces implementing the 297-page accord and bringing about real reconciliation.

For the referendum to be ratified, at least 13 percent of the electorate, or 4.5 million voters, must cast “yes” ballots.

Turnout is expected to be low, no higher than the 40 percent seen in recent congressional elections, a sign to some analysts that Colombians enthusiasm for implementing the ambitious accord is lacking.

In some rural parts of the country, voting was cancelled due to rains resulting from Hurricane Matthew.

The opposition, led by powerful ex-president Alvaro Uribe, argues that the government is appeasing FARC and setting a bad example that criminal gangs will seize on.

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has been campaigning for the passage of peace deal [Reuters]
Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has been campaigning for the passage of peace deal [Reuters]

But FARC officials in recent days have made an effort to show their commitment to peace is real.

Twice this week leaders of the group travelled to areas hard hit by the violence to apologise for massacres committed by their troops in the course of the conflict, and to discuss with communities how they can compensate victims.

On Saturday, in the presence of UN observers, they voluntarily destroyed 620kg of grenades and light explosives.

They also said they would compensate victims with financial resources and land holdings accumulated during the war.

READ MORE: Colombia’s long road to peace

Only if it is ratified will the FARC’s roughly 7,000 fighters begin moving to 27 concentration zones where over six months they will gradually turn over their weapons to UN observers and prepare for their reintegration into civilian life.

Under the accord, FARC – which began as a peasant revolt in 1964 – can compete in the 2018 presidential and legislative elections and has 10 unelected congressional seats guaranteed through 2026.

While the number of seats will not be enough to sway legislation, some Colombians are still outraged.

For decades, FARC bankrolled the longest-running conflict in the Americas through kidnapping and extortion, spreading a sense of terror that left few Colombians unaffected.

Vignettes of life in Colombia on the brink of historic peace deal


A peace deal was signed last Monday between the government and the rebel group FARC [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 
A peace deal was signed last Monday between the government and the rebel group FARC [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 

Under the deal, FARC can compete in the 2018 presidential and legislative elections [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 
Under the deal, FARC can compete in the 2018 presidential and legislative elections [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 

A total of 10 unelected congressional seats are guaranteed for FARC through 2026 [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 
A total of 10 unelected congressional seats are guaranteed for FARC through 2026 [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 

For the referendum to be ratified, at least 13 percent of the electorate, or 4.5 million voters, must cast
For the referendum to be ratified, at least 13 percent of the electorate, or 4.5 million voters, must cast “yes” ballots [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 

Only if it is ratified will the FARC's roughly 7,000 fighters begin moving to 27 concentration zones [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 
Only if it is ratified will the FARC’s roughly 7,000 fighters begin moving to 27 concentration zones [Ricardo Lopez/Al Jazeera]
 

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies