The Fraught Process Towards Peace: Colombia and the Philippines

Two of the longest running armed rebellions on opposites sides of the world, the FARC in Colombia and the NDFP in the Philippines are vying for peace but several elements-government, paramilitary, and drugs, make it all but impossible.

As members of the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, embark on their ‘last march’ to demobilization camps after half a century of war and the government begins peace talks with ELN rebels, a series of assassinations has shaken the prospects for peace in Colombia.

Human rights defenders, left-wing activists, land rights advocates, indigenous and black community leaders — all supporters of the peace process — are being assassinated in rural areas of the country. This situation has many worried that it could sabotage the fragile peace accord and its implementation.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines is a coalition made up of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and many other civil society organizations. The revolutionary government has been at war with the Philippine government since the late 1960s, and is currently undergoing peace talks with the Rodrigo Duterte administration. These talks are significant and have moved farther than previous Philippine government  administrations. Christina Ellazar Palabay, who is the Secretary General of Karapatan or the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights Philippines, and Edre U. Olalia, member of the International Legal Advisory Team of the peace negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front–are part of a peace tour delegation to talk about a ‘just and lasting peace’ in the Philippines amidst a polarizing president.