Acuerdo sobre la Mesa Nacional de Negociación y Comité Temático Nacional

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Acuerdo sobre la Mesa Nacional de Negociación y Comité Temático Nacional
Date: 6 May 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Colombian Conflict (1964 - )
The Colombian conflict is really a set of conflicts and the peace agreements reflect both different processes relating to different conflict groups and dyads, and processes taking place at different times in a complex peace process history. The Colombian civil war has its roots in the late 1940s and the violent infighting between liberal and the conservative factions. Emerging from the liberal tradition with a thorough grounding in nationalist communist ideology, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC) began its armed insurrection against the Colombian government in 1964. Other left-wing guerrillas emerged as well, most notably the socialist/populist M-19, which would later be integrated into the formal political system in the peace process of 1990s; the National Liberation Army (ELN), which has strong roots in liberation theology, and the Maoist Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) (also part of the 1990 process, less successfully). Several stages of peace processes were undertaken by the various sides, which were further complicated by the emergence of right-wing paramilitary ‘self-defence’ forces. The peace agreement between the Colombian government under President Uribe and the main alliance of the paramilitary groups, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), concluded in 2005 and is still heavily disputed as several remnants are still active, but now subsumed under the heading ‘Bacrim’ (Bandas criminales). In addition, FARC and ELN maintain a military presence, but both demonstrate a strong interest in completing successful peace negotiations with the government, with the most recent agreements being between FARC and the Government.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Colombia III - Arango
Parties: For the national government: VÍCTOR G. RICARDO; FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO; MARÍA EMMA MEJÍA VÉLEZ; NICANOR RESTREPO SANTAMARÍA; RODOLFO ESPINOSA MEÓLA
For FARC–EP: RAÚL REYES; JOAQUÍN GÓMEZ; FABIÁN RAMÍREZ
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement declares that the negotiation table is the highest instance for taking decisions of permanent character, direct the negotiations and design the process. The document details who will be at the table. It will include a national thematic committee composed acc. to parity with up to 20 members who will evaluate the propositions on the topics on the agenda. The committee has no authority to make compromises, it informs the public, develops options, consolidates information and makes recommendations to the table. The participation of the public will be integrated into the process (detailed incl. free of charge postal proposals). There will be international observers and facilitators.

Agreement document: CO_990506_ENCUENTRO CON LA NACIÓN ACUERDO SOBRE MESA NACIONAL DE NEGOCIACION - tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_990506_ENCUENTRO CON LA NACIÓN ACUERDO SOBRE MESA NACIONAL DE NEGOCIACION.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1,
...
The National Roundtable for Negotiation will also include a National Thematic Committee
with up to 20 representatives from the various sectors of the country, which will evaluate
the different proposals regarding the agenda items communicated to Colombians for
consideration. The National Thematic Committee will have two coordinators, one appointed
by the national government and another by FARC–EP, who will directly report the results of
public participation to the National Roundtable for Negotiation. The committee will not be
entitled to make commitments and will only be entitled to organise the public audiences,
consolidate information, develop options and make recommendations to the National
Roundtable for Negotiation.
Public participation will be implemented as required via public audiences in the various
regions of the country to hear suggestions regarding the issues agreed by the roundtable.
This will be complemented by a freepost mechanism provided by the national government
to allow citizens or institutions representing the various sectors to send correspondence to
the National Roundtable for Negotiation free of charge.
...
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Pages 1-2, [Summary]
The National Secretariat of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) has the right to appoint its negotiators for the National Roundtable for Negotiation, which will be the highest and permanent decision-making authority. The maximum number of members is ten and both parties will have an equal number of participants.
The FARC-EP is also entitled to appoint one of two coordinators for the National Thematic Committee, which will organize the public audiences.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Diálogo, negociación y ruptura con las FARC-EP y con el ELN, Biblioteca de la Paz – 1998-2000, Fundación Cultura Democrática, Ed. Álvaro Villarraga Sarmiento, Bogotá D.C., 2009 (book V) p. 180

NATIONAL MEETING:

AGREEMENT ON THE NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE FOR NEGOTIATION AND THE NATIONAL THEMATIC COMMITTEE

La Machaca, 6 May 1999

The National Roundtable for Negotiation will be the highest decision-making authority and will be permanent.

It will guide the negotiations and design and manage the process.

The roundtable will comprise negotiators from the national government and those appointed by the National Secretariat of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército Popular, FARC–EP).

Sessions may be held in any of the municipalities that form part of the demilitarised zone.

Both parties will have an equal number of participants in the roundtable, with a maximum of ten members.

The National Roundtable for Negotiation will also include a National Thematic Committee with up to 20 representatives from the various sectors of the country, which will evaluate the different proposals regarding the agenda items communicated to Colombians for consideration.

The National Thematic Committee will have two coordinators, one appointed by the national government and another by FARC–EP, who will directly report the results of public participation to the National Roundtable for Negotiation.

The committee will not be entitled to make commitments and will only be entitled to organise the public audiences, consolidate information, develop options and make recommendations to the National Roundtable for Negotiation.

Public participation will be implemented as required via public audiences in the various regions of the country to hear suggestions regarding the issues agreed by the roundtable.

This will be complemented by a freepost mechanism provided by the national government to allow citizens or institutions representing the various sectors to send correspondence to the National Roundtable for Negotiation free of charge.

The headquarters of the National Roundtable for Negotiation will have the elements and measures required for its correct operation.

A parity group of staff will work there and will permanently receive initiatives regarding the peace process.

In terms of the participation of the international community, it will participate as supporters or facilitators of the process.

The national government and FARC–EP will jointly define the corresponding responsibilities and the appointment of figures to undertake these roles.

For the national government:

VÍCTOR G. RICARDO

FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO

MARÍA EMMA MEJÍA VÉLEZ

NICANOR RESTREPO SANTAMARÍA

RODOLFO ESPINOSA MEÓLA

For FARC–EP:

RAÚL REYES

JOAQUÍN GÓMEZ

FABIÁN RAMÍREZ