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December 29, 2016

Colombian Congress Approves Limited Amnesty for FARC Rebels
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In Colombia, lawmakers have approved a law granting amnesty to some
members of the FARC guerrilla group. This is Fernando Cristo, Colombia's
interior minister.

Fernando Cristo: "It means that the path is clear to guarantee the
demobilization and disarmament of FARC members in the first quarter of
next year. It is no more and no less than the end of a 52-year conflict
with the FARC. The FARC's abandonment of arms is now in the hands of the
United Nations so that the entire process of implementing the accords
can begin."

The law will not protect FARC members who committed war crimes or human
rights violations. It follows a historic peace accord that formally
ended a civil war that left a quarter-million Colombians dead.


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