Land mine removal will be at the center of the 36th round of negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and residents of rural areas are expected to play a key role. Peasants say that they have been victims of the mines and know where many are located, but they demand guarantees from the government that land mine removal be accompanied by further de-escalation measures, primarily the adoption of a permanent ceasefire. Victim compensation is another major issue in the round of talks and the FARC has called on the government to accept its responsibility to the victims and to declassify government files that are expected to make government responsibility clear. Natalia Margarita reports from Bogota for teleSUR
Colombia: Land Mine Removal Not Enough, Say Peasants
Land mine removal will be at the center of the 36th round of negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and residents of rural areas are expected to play a key role. Peasants say that they have been victims of the mines and know where many are located, but they demand guarantees from the government that land mine removal be accompanied by further de-escalation measures, primarily the adoption of a permanent ceasefire. Victim compensation is another major issue in the round of talks and the FARC has called on the government to accept its responsibility to the victims and to declassify government files that are expected to make government responsibility clear. Natalia Margarita reports from Bogota for teleSUR
