By Richard McColl

BOGOTA

Victims of FARC guerrilla violence are creating a new organization to ensure that their voices are heard during the current peace dialogues taking place in Havana., a congresswoman anno

The purpose of creating the National Federation of FARC Victims is to provide victims with a unified voice, according to Sen. Sofia Gaviria Correa.

“We are looking to form a body that not only has the weight of reason and suffering behind it, but also is representative in its size,” she said. “Without a proportional participation of victims in the Havana dialogues, the negotiations will not lead to a just solution which can ensure a lasting peace,” the Liberal Party senator told the El Espectador newspaper.

Several key issues have already been agreed upon in the ongoing talks between the FARC rebels and the Colombian government that began in November 2012, including illicit drugs, political participation and agrarian reform. The negotiations are currently addressing the issue of the rights of the victims of the conflict, however, some are questioning how much has been ceded to the guerrillas, in particular the supposed role of a demilitarized guerrilla group as a legitimate political party.

“We are not opposed to the concession of parliamentary seats to members of the FARC,” said Sen. Gaviria, “but these should come about through a democratic process.”

So far, during the peace dialogues, 48 victims of the conflict – ranging from victims of the guerrillas, the paramilitaries and the armed forces – have been to Havana to share their experiences. They were were picked by members of the United Nations and the National University in Bogota. Concerned that the chosen victims have been to Havana and the peace dialogues only to represent their own interests, Sen. Gaviria’s aim is to create one overarching group.

“We will have a committee to discuss 33 points of action which they must comply with now and later,” she said. The points include the freedom of expression for victims of the FARC, that all victims have the same rights, FARC recognises the crimes against humanity they have committed and the freedom of all hostages.

For their part, the FARC recently admitted their role in the conflict.

“In a conflict that has lasted for more than 50 years and in which we have participated actively, we have impacted the adversary and also somehow produced damages to the population that has lived immersed in war,” said FARC member Pablo Atrato in Cuba.

The rebel group, however, denies any participation in crimes against humanity. Group spokesperson Pablo Catatumbo saying, “the violation of the rights of people fully justifies rebellion.”

The Colombian conflict has since 1964, caused the deaths of 220,000 people and displaced more than 5 million, according to Human Rights Watch.

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