The challenges of peace

The international community took its breath 10 days ago when Colombians took to the polls in a nationwide referendum to have their say on a negotiated peace deal to end the longest-running insurgency in Latin America. The result, though, shattered expectations, as Colombian voters rejected it by a margin of 54,000 votes, amounting to just 0.4 percent of all voters. Both the no votes and the low turnout - just 37 percent of the electorate - indicated a general dissatisfaction with both the deal and the process.

The country reached this point after four years of intense negotiations. When a deal was finally signed between the government and the leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), on Sept. 26, it was a long-awaited breakthrough for the 52-year-old conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 220,000 people, displaced millions, and led to the long-term ailments of citizens as a result of kidnappings, rapes, torture and so on.

The deal in general provided protection for FARC members, ranging from avoiding jail terms if they were not involved in serious crimes, to allowing them to run for public office, while guaranteeing them 10 seats in Congress. The rebels, in turn, would have to handover their weapons in six months and demobilize before reintegrating into society. An economic assistance package was also foreseen for their reintegration.

Everything seemed fine on paper, as the deal look liked a textbook case for conflict resolution theory. Yet, in practice, citizens heavily criticized various provisions for providing generous rights to the rebels, irrespective of the forgiveness of those who had suffered. The fact that, in theory, the forgiveness of the masses is a necessary component of reintegration in...