Before the agreement on political participation and access to media signed in Havana between the National Government and the FARC-EP, during the peace process, the Attorney General, Eduardo Montealegre Lynett, expressed agreement with general terms that were announced in the second part of the agenda.
The Attorney Montealegre said that “If there is a negotiated solution to the conflict, it is essential to open democratic channels to FARC, which can have access to public corporations, which may have access to the mayoralties and the governorates. Everything for that within the democratic ways, the FARC can give great discussion of transformations required by the country”.
He also noted that “This once again confirms the thesis that we have many Colombians that it is possible a negotiated solution to Colombia’s armed conflict. The fact that progress has been made in a sensitive and specific agreements in this agenda item shows a real willingness of the FARC for a negotiated solution. ”
On obstacles or impediments for FARC members to participate in politics, the senior official said that “the only limitation that brings the Colombian Constitution is that if they are convicted for crimes against humanity, can not interfere in politics, in other who have no convictions for crimes of international criminal law and in accordance with the constitution, could participate, go to Congress or be in local authorities”.
On the issue of access to the media, he said that “this is linked to a large Statute of opposition theme and within that framework has to be the possibility of access to the media for the ideas discussion in Colombia”.
“The important thing is that the country understands that if there is to be a negotiated solution to the conflict, it is essential to open the doors of political negotiation,” said the Attorney General.