FARC begins final disarmament in Colombia

By Richard McColl

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - FARC guerrillas in Colombia commenced the final handover of weapons to UN observers Tuesday in a process expected to last one week.

After more than 50 years of conflict with the state, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), who formed in 1964, will become a thing of the past and will move in to politics.

On two previous occasions the guerrillas have handed over 60 percent of their weapons, however, through June 27, the rebels will coordinate the final delivery of the remaining 40 percent of their weapons, culminating with a formal ceremony that will be attended by President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC’s commander-in-chief Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri, at the rebel transitional camp in Mesetas, Meta.

“The disarmament is a reality,” Santos told the media Tuesday, reiterating that approximately 6,000 guerrillas are ready to transition to civilian life and the implementation of a peace deal signed last year would permit the government to focus on the more pressing concerns of Colombians.

UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman acknowledged Monday setbacks in the handover process but said, “We are very optimistic about this new and final phase”.

He said the gains have outweighed the challenges.

“We have seen the positive side of things in that these challenges have been overcome and that the implementation is on the right path,” he added.