Paul KeenanThe Pope has been hailed for prompting an end to the nation’s conflict, writes Paul Keenan
If there is one issue above all others which must offer global leaders sleepless nights, it is surely that of their legacies. What is it, they ask themselves in quiet moments of reflection, which will mark my tenure as a successful president, prime minister or ruler? What policy decision or crisis faced goes with me into history’s pages?
Though not personally burdened in the same way as political figures by such nagging introspection, Popes, by their very profile, are no less immune to the question of legacy.
Thus it is that September’s visit by Pope Francis to Cuba and the US may well have marked definitively the Latin American Pontiff’s tenure on the throne of St Peter (apparently indefatigable, he will surely continue to surprise in the months and years ahead).
Having travelled to Havana on September 19 to receive the praise due to him for his role in the historic shift in relation between Cuba and the US, he left the Americas with another momentous gain to his name in the form of a promised peace at last for turbulent Colombia.
Taking time during his outdoor Mass in Havana on September 20 to refer directly to the three-year-old talks towards a settlement of Colombia’s simmering conflict between government and members of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Pope Francis reached out to the negotiators using Havana as a neutral venue and stressed to them: “We do not have the right to allow ourselves yet another failure on this path of peace and reconciliation.”
With that personal message of encouragement, the Pontiff continued his travels. Now it appears, he has left a major gain for Colombia in his wake.
Struggle
Just days after the end of the Cuba visit, the vacuum of the trip was filled with broadcast images of leading players in the Colombian struggle united in a major announcement.
Joined by Cuban President Raul Castro, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos shook hands with FARC leader Timoleón Jiménez and, with all similarly dressed in white shirts as though denoting their newly agreed stance, declared that all points of negotiation had been settled, promising peace for Colombia within months – March 23 has been signalled as the deadline date.
Quite aside from the future implications of such an announcement after over 50 years of insurrection, the journey since December 2014 to this point makes the peace accord all the more stunning.
Though a ceasefire (not the first, admittedly) had been declared by FARC at the end of last year, resulting in a reciprocal arrangement by the Colombian authorities to end its bombing campaign against FARC positions, the situation remained tense as peace negotiations dragged on. Coming into 2015, just three of six key elements which were the focus of negotiations had been agreed, and the three outstanding points seemed intractable.
Then, in April, FARC members struck in an murderous ambush which left 11 government soldiers dead and threatened to upset all; President Santos ordered a renewed bombing campaign and FARC opponents called for immediate and decisive action to destroy the group once and for all.
Through all, the negotiators stuck doggedly to the table until, with the Havana announcement, just one issue remains to be addressed, that of the decommissioning of arms. This seems likely to occur once the accord on all other arrangements is signed by the sides (though, little doubt there will be lingering questions as to oversight towards confirmation of this important step).
Both Jiménez and Santos will make much of what has been gained for their followers – not least the president as his country heads towards local elections this October 25 – but the truth is that Colombian society as a whole stands to be the greatest winner.
While much has been made of arrangements under which military leaders on both sides will be encouraged to engage with a truth and reconciliation process to deal with the long years of conflict – with 20 years of imprisonment hanging over the heads of those stubbornly refusing to participate – victims have not been left out of the mix; the Havana negotiations were also attended by representatives of no fewer than five victims groups who helped formulate responses to their needs too.
For the record, Colombia’s National Unit of Victims has recorded a total number of persons killed, displaced, disappeared or otherwise victimised by all sides during the conflict at over seven million. There are at least 26,000 ‘disappeared’ in the country, again attributable to all sides.
This latter figure alone serves to illustrate the fevered desire for peace on the part of Colombians and the joyous welcome for the Havana announcement. The US Secretary of State John Kerry was quick to congratulate the sides for reaching their accord.
At the same time, his statement was no less vocal in praising the figure whose words are becoming increasingly recognised as pushing the deal to the finishing post.
“I also must express my deep appreciation to Pope Francis for his moral leadership and the Vatican’s good offices in the quest for peace in Colombia,” Secretary Kerry stated.
As a sidebar, if there is to be praise for Pope Francis in his urging of the final efforts for peace in the Havana negotiations, it is only fair for the historical record that due recognition be offered for the tireless efforts of a significant prelate closer to home.
Quite aside from his role as Military Bishop of Colombia, Bishop Fabio Suescun Mutis has led repeated calls from the Colombian Church for a full and lasting peace to the FARC conflict, his being the loudest such voice after the April ambush. His efforts, built on 50 years of ministry in the country, saw him as a trusted figure nominated by FARC last December to verify its ceasefire on that occasion.
Atmosphere
It must also be acknowledged that, amid the feel-good atmosphere of the moment, hopes of an immediate end to all conflict must face a not insignificant issue. Still lurking on the fringes of the dying FARC conflict is the still-existing Ejército de Liberación Nacional, the ELN, another guerrilla group which has yet to come in from the cold.
However, on a positive note, an agenda for talks with the government have been agreed for the coming weeks, hopefully containing as much promise as that of the FARC talks.
All of which leaves but one question outstanding, one that must surely hang on the lips of all Colombians who have reason to thank Pope Francis for his ground-breaking intervention on their behalf.
Rumours continue to abound that during the June 2015 meeting in Rome between the Pontiff and President Santos, Pope Francis quietly assured the president that he would pay an official visit to Colombia should a successful peace be brokered.
As the guns fall silent, a nation awaits.