To the Point
After Decades of war in Colombia, peace has a chance
In 1964, Colombian peasant farmers—virtual slaves of urban landowners--formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. Since then, 200,000 people have died and millions have been displaced in the Western Hemisphere's longest-running conflict. Now, there's a peace deal — if Colombia's voters approve it next month.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readIn 1964, Colombian peasant farmers—virtual slaves of urban landowners--formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. Since then, 200,000 people have died and millions have been displaced in the Western Hemisphere's longest-running conflict. Now, there's a peace deal — if Colombia's voters approve it next month. But both sides -- peasant farmers and Marxist rebels against urban landowners using death squads and right-wing paramilitaries -- have committed atrocities over the years. Can victims and perpetrators learn to live side by side? We look at the history, the hopes and the fears of a beleaguered nation.
