CARTAGENA, Colombia – It looked like business as usual in central Cartagena. Fruit carts were wheeled through tiny streets, tourists stood on corners studying maps, and police were still everywhere. But this is a country divided.
On Sunday, 50.21% of Colombians voted No to a peace deal that would end the 52-year conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The yes vote was 49.78%
It was a close call with the vote being 50.21% to 49.78% and 62% of the population not voting.
“I voted ‘no’ and I am happy,” said Martha Alzate, a 55-year-old business woman and hotel owner in Cartagena. “We love to live in peace so it’s hard to explain. I don’t agree with the points of the documents they were going to sign because it was not taking into mind what the citizens wanted. I agree with the peace process but not the way they were asking for it. There are too many benefits for the guerrillas.”
Under the peace plan, the guerrillas would be reintroduced into society and people could be fired to make jobs for them.
They were also to receive $1,800,000 Colombian pesos, approximately $800 Canadian dollars, per month for five years. This was to help them start new businesses. If they didn’t start a business, they would be receiving Colombian minimum wage for nothing.
“FARC is not the only armed group in Colombia,” says Alzate. “After FARC there would be many other groups trying to get lots of things from the government. Many families have suffered. Many conflict zones have suffered from all these murders, all these attacks. They would be against impunity.”
Walter Gonzalez Sanchez, a 42-year-old waiter from Cartagena also voted against the peace deal.
“I did this for several reasons including corruption in the government and the referendum for peace … they (FARC) would not be tried for their crimes. It (the agreement) does not speak of services to victims. There would be more taxes for Colombians to pay for the FARC to be immobilized.”
Blanca Montenegro, a 29-year-old waitress who lives in Cartagena, voted Yes.
“I vote ‘yes’. I vote yes for my future kids,” she said. “I want to finish this war now. I want to go out on the streets and not be scared. I love Colombia. I want to see Colombia this way … hitchhiking,” she said as she held out her thumb.
Montenegro grew up in a small, mountain town about two hours from Cartagena. In 1999 there was a lot of FARC presence. Her parents, two brothers and grandmother moved to Cartagena due to the violence. She heard shootings in the night that she still remembers. Her grandmother died and will never get to go home.
Montenegro’s family moved to Cartagena when the paramilitary took their farm.
“I was hiking in Caucasia en Antioquia and ran into the paramilitary. They work with the FARC. They said, ‘You are out of here by 6pm or you’re all dead.’ This was eight years ago. “And now I am still too scared to go home,” says Montenegro.
Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos released a statement saying he wants to continue to fight for peace, as he knows the people do.
Daniela Akel is 29 years old and did not vote as she was away from the city where she was registered to vote.
“The weather did not stop me. I would have voted ‘yes’ because after 52 years of war it would be great to see something else,” said Akel. She is a doctor of aesthetic medicine in Cartagena. “It is the first time we have the opportunity to decide something different. We don’t have anything that’s worse than to kill each other, to kidnap each other. Even with the FARC in government.”
Akel went on to say, “As Colombians we are really good at things we do. At science, music, movies, literature, math, drugs…we are always trying to do something new and take advantage of things. In this case with the right support and money toward education it would be good to see where we can reach, what we can do. A, yes, would have been a positive message.”
With continued negotiations and an ongoing ceasefire, Akel worries about the future of Colombia.
“Why would anyone want to come to a country that said no to peace? But nobody tried to get the opinion of important groups in Colombia. It was the FARCs opinion and the government’s opinion. That’s all.”
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