And yet it moves series#

The legislation and the constitutional rights of Colombians get diluted as theory meets practice in the isolated and marginalised areas of the country. However, in practice this is not the case.

And yet it moves series#

In Colombia the institutional mechanisms have been set in place to promote a vibrant and active democracy since the 1990s (when a new constitution established a series of mechanisms to allow citizens to engage actively with the state). The insistence of the ELN on creating a national assembly resonates with another need from this process: the promotion of peace requires the involvement and empowerment of the population. Settlements on political participation, agrarian policy, illicit drugs and a transitional justice framework have been reached already, rendering changes on previous agreements unlikely yet not unfeasible. The possible negotiation agenda with the ELN most likely will focus on elements that have been raised historically by the ELN: a national assembly, natural resource extraction policies and the consolidation of structural reforms within Colombian society, among others.Īgreements already reached with the FARC would offer a head start on the negotiations and agreements with the ELN. More than half a century will not be changed merely with the signature of an agreementIt is important to mention how the possibility of a peace process with the ELN might strengthen the possibility of peace initiatives succeeding and the necessary changes to make peace a reality in the country. Therefore the official start of negotiations with the ELN is not the answer for these challenges, but presents a step in the right direction. It has been argued the failure of peace has been a consequence of the failures to implement a broader peace, the signing of agreements which leave the institutional settings unchanged and the lack of involvement and empowerment of the population. The signing of agreements is necessary, but not sufficient for peace. However, caution is needed as this is not the first peace process Colombia has undertaken in recent decades. The only remaining point of the agenda is the debate around demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration. The peace process with the FARC has recently achieved an agreement in regards to justice and reconciliation, bringing closer the finalisation of the negotiation agenda between the Government and the FARC. As more groups are brought into a wider peace process (not necessarily the same negotiation), the possibility of spoilers is reduced, the legitimacy of peace is increased and the opportunity for achieving synergies that reinforce progress toward a national peace process rises. The possibility of formal negotiations with the Colombian government is thus a promising development not only because of the possibility of peace widening as a national process involving different actors, but also because this inclusion creates an avenue by which peace can be cemented regionally. Its operations have been funded by kidnappings, extortion, and involving itself to some degree in the drug trafficking supply chain.

The ELN was founded by a small group of university students and has positioned itself for several generations throughout the country, with a discourse focusing on issues of natural resources, sovereignty and social justice. It is central to the history of the Colombian conflict, not only because of their salience in particular regions but because peace will not be achieved in Colombia until all the groups exerting violence in the country are brought into a national peace agenda. As more groups are brought into a wider peace process, the possibility of spoilers is reduced, the legitimacy of peace is increased and the opportunity for achieving synergies risesThe Ejercito de Liberación Nacional (National Liberation Army, ELN) is a Colombian left wing guerrilla group which originated in the 1960s.