Sante Fe de Ralito Accord to contribute to peace in Colombia

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Sante Fe de Ralito Accord to contribute to peace in Colombia
Date: 15 Jul 2003
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 IV - Uribe
Parties: National Govt, United Self-Defence Groups of Colombia (AUC)
Third parties: Witnesses: Exploratory Commission for Peace (govt established body to hold talks with AUC), Catholic Church
Description: Parties commit to DDR of AUC, and endorse proposals of government established body Exploratory Commission for Peace

Agreement document: CO_030715_Santa Fe de Ralito Accord to contribute to peace in Colombia.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: Pages 1-2, Article 8,
Thank the Catholic Church for its permanent presence throughout this peace process and invite it to continue this as a guarantee of the processes' transparency and parties' commitment to peace in Colombia.

Page 2, Article 9,
Call for national solidarity and commitment in order to strengthen the State and to create the conditions that will make possible the demobilization and reincorporation of the members of the AUC into civilian life. The parties ask that the different national sectors and local communities support the efforts of the State institutions in consolidating security, peaceful coexistence and development.
Traditional/religious leaders: Pages 1-2, Article 8,
Thank the Catholic Church for its permanent presence throughout this peace process and invite it to continue this as a guarantee of the processes' transparency and parties' commitment to peace in Colombia.
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: Page 1, Article 1,
To define as the objective of this process the establishment of national peace through the strengthening of democratic governance and the re-establishment of the monopoly of force in the hands of the State. The AUC reiterate that its greatest service to the country in this historic moment is to advance its reincorporation into civilian life and to contribute to the strengthening to the rule of law. The parties commit themselves to this process conscious that their actions are an effective step towards the construction of a genuine peace that the Colombian people deserve and desire.

Page 1, Article 7,
The AUC shares the government's goal of a Colombia without narco-trafficking and supports the actions of the Colombian State against this phenomenon that destroys democracy, peaceful coexistence, the economy and the environment.

Page 2, Article 10,
Call on the international community to support the efforts to defend and strengthen the Colombian democracy and to give their support to deactivating the causes of violence that affects Colombia.
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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Article 7,
The AUC shares the government's goal of a Colombia without narco-trafficking and supports the actions of the Colombian State against this phenomenon that destroys democracy, peaceful coexistence, the economy and the environment.
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: Page 1, Article 7,
The AUC shares the government's goal of a Colombia without narco-trafficking and supports the actions of the Colombian State against this phenomenon that destroys democracy, peaceful coexistence, the economy and the environment.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, Article 6,
The AUC ratifies its commitment to the end of hostilities, as a good will gesture, and will continue with its efforts to ensure that this is completely effective.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 1, Article 1,
To define as the objective of this process the establishment of national peace through the strengthening of democratic governance and the re-establishment of the monopoly of force in the hands of the State. The AUC reiterate that its greatest service to the country in this historic moment is to advance its reincorporation into civilian life and to contribute to the strengthening to the rule of law. The parties commit themselves to this process conscious that their actions are an effective step towards the construction of a genuine peace that the Colombian people deserve and desire.

Page 1, Article 2,
To achieve this proposition the AUC commits itself to the total demobilization of its members through a gradual process that will begin with the first demobilisations before the end of the year and that should be completed no later than the 31 December 2005. The government commits itself to pursue the necessary actions to reincorporate the AUC's members into civilian life.

Page 1, Article 5,
Create the conditions so that within a reasonable time period - with the necessary security guarantees - members of the AUC will congregate in previously agreed upon locations. The congregation of the AUC's members will include all levels of command, with the necessary security guarantees as agreed between the parties. These zones will have a permanent public security force presence.

Page 2, Article 9,
Call for national solidarity and commitment in order to strengthen the State and to create the conditions that will make possible the demobilization and reincorporation of the members of the AUC into civilian life. The parties ask that the different national sectors and local communities support the efforts of the State institutions in consolidating security, peaceful coexistence and development.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: [Summary]
The agreement mainly deals with the demobilisation of the AUC. For detailed provisions please see 'DDR', 'ceasefire', and 'organised crime'.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: Page 1, Article 7,
The AUC shares the government's goal of a Colombia without narco-trafficking and supports the actions of the Colombian State against this phenomenon that destroys democracy, peaceful coexistence, the economy and the environment.
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: 8. Thanks the Catholic Church for its permanent presence throughout the peace process, and invite it to continue as guarantor to the process. (Catholic Church witness and signatory to the process). 10. call on intl community to spport the efforts to defend and strengthen Colombian democracy and deactivating the causes of violence
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Diaz Uribe & Villamizar Herrera (1995)

Santa Fe de Ralito Accord to contribute to peace in Colombia

15. July 1003

The national government and the United Self-Defence groups of Colombia (AUC), as the result of the preceding Exploratory Phase conducted between the parties since December 2002,

AGREE TO:

1. Define as the objective of this process the establishment of national peace through the strengthening of democratic governance and the re-establishment of the monopoly of force in the hands of the State.

The AUC reiterate that its greatest service to the country in this historic moment is to advance its reincorporation into civilian life and to contribute to the strengthening to the rule of law.

The parties commit themselves to this process conscious that their actions are an effective step towards the construction of a genuine peace that th~ Colombian people deserve and desire.

2. To achieve this proposition the AUC commits itself to the total demobilization of its members through a gradual process that will begin with the first demobilisations before the end of the year and that should be completed no later than the 31 December 2005.

The government commits itself to pursue the necessary actions to reincorporate the AUC's members into civilian life.

3. The AUC values very positively the final recommendations made by the Exploratory Commission and recognizes that these constitute the basis for a peace process between the national government and theAUC.

4. The parties agree that with the recommendations made in the final report of the Exploratory Commission the exploratory phase of the peace process has been concluded, giving way to the start of the negotiation stage.

5. Create the conditions so that within a reasonable time period - with the necessary security guarantees - members of the AUC will congregate in previously agreed upon locations.

The congregation of the AUC's members will include all levels of command, with the necessary security guarantees as agreed between the parties.

These zones will have a permanent public security force presence.

6. The AUC ratifies its commitment to the end of hostilities, as a good will gesture, and will continue with its efforts to ensure that this is completely effective. ·

7. The AUC shares the government's goal of a Colombia without narco-trafficking and supports the actions of the Colombian State against this phenomenon that destroys democracy, peaceful coexistence, the economy and the environment.

8. Thank the Catholic Church for its permanent presence throughout this peace process and invite it to continue this as a guarantee of the processes' transparency and parties' commitment to peace in Colombia.

9. Call for national solidarity and commitment in order to strengthen the State and to create the conditions that will make possible the demobilization and reincorporation of the members of the AUC into civilian life.

The parties ask that the different national sectors and local communities support the efforts of the State institutions in consolidating security, peaceful coexistence and development.

10. Call on the international community to support the efforts to defend and strengthen the Colombian democracy and to give their support to deactivating the causes of violence that affects Colombia.

With this accord the government and the AUC are responding to the national wish for a peaceful Colombia with opportunities and guarantees for everyone.

On behalf of the National Government:

LUIS CARLOS RESTREPO High Commissioner for Peace On behalf of the AUC:

HERNAN HERNANDEZ RAMIRO VANOY LUIS CIFUENTES FRANCISCO TABARES ADOLFO PAZ JORGE PIRATA VICENTE CASTANO CARLOS CAST ANO SALVATORE MANCUSO

Witnesses:

Members of the Exploratory Commission for Peace Carlos Franco Jorge Ignacio Castano Eduardo Espinosa Gilberto Alzate Ronga Ricardo Avellaneda Juan B. Perez Rubiano Facilitators of the process from the Catholic Church Monsefior German Garcia Monsefior Julio Cesar Vidal Padre Leonidas Moreno

Santa Fe de Ralito, 15 July 2003