After its approval in the Congress of the Republic, President Gustavo Petro sanctioned Law 418, with which the process of “total peace” with the country’s guerrillas and armed groups would be launched.
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The signing of the law approved by the Congress of the Republic was carried out by the President of the Republic from the Hato Grande farm in the municipality of Cajicá on the outskirts of Bogotá.
“The Law of Peace, the legal framework that allows for many years, this time has been renewed, lThe regulation that allows governments to build negotiations with those who are outside the law to achieve the dream of Total Peace in Colombia. So now it is up to our Peace Commissioner, Danilo Rueda, to implement a good part of this regulation,” Petro said.
In this sense, he specified that: “There will be people who will negotiate with the justice system the possibility of a peaceful dismantling of crime. There will be people who will negotiate with the government the options of putting an end to an insurgent war, from many decades ago, which must end definitively, without echoes, so that society Colombian is the true owner of the country, the true owner of the destinies of Colombia, the real and peaceful democracy that we need in this country”.
What is the law about?
The initiative will allow the Government to have dialogues with illegal armed groups, in addition to rapprochement with criminal groups such as the FARC dissidents commanded by alias Iván Márquez, which is why it has sparked so much controversy.
Additionally, the possibility of having a social service for peace parallel to compulsory military service, with the aim that young people have the opportunity to choose the option that best suits them.
Social Service for Peace
This will be a alternative mechanism to compulsory military service, therefore it will not replace it, but it will be a complement. It will have a duration of twelve (12) months, and may be provided in the following modalities:
1. Social service to promote digital literacy in rural or urban areas.
2. Social service for work with victims of the armed conflict and the promotion of their rights, the defense of human rights and international humanitarian law.
3. Social service for the endorsement and fulfillment of peace agreements. Among others.
National Program for the Voluntary Surrender of Arms
This program will have duration of 12 months, extendable for the same term, counted from the issuance of the regulation of the ‘Total Peace’ project.
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During the term of the program, all natural or legal personnational or foreign that, voluntarily, delivers to the Department Control and Trade of Arms and Explosives (DCCAE) or you will receive anonymity.
