UN observers to monitor Colombia-FARC peace deal
Euronews



The United Nations Security Council has approved international observers to monitor a long-awaited peace agreement between Colombia and the country’s militants.

That peace deal between Colombia’s government and The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is within reach.

In a televised address on Monday night (January 25) Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos praised the UN for backing a mission to support a FARC peace deal.

“The decision taken by the Security Council means that we are no longer alone, we have the hand of the United Nations, of the whole world to the end of this war. It’s the best guarantee this will happen,” said Santos.

After three years of negotiations the two sides are working towards reaching a final, comprehensive peace agreement by a March 23 deadline.

The UN mission would then monitor the end of hostilities and the laying down of arms.

Fifty years of fighting has cost the lives of 220,000 people and displaced millions.

Source: http://www.euronews.com/2016/01/26/un-observers-to-monitor-colombia-farc-peace-deal/

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-26

Unlike the insurgency in Columbia and The Philippines, The Royal Thai Military rejects the Malay-Thai insurgent's request that international monitors and facilitators participate in peace talks as a condition for talks. The RTM considers the insurgency, despite the years of deaths, injury and damage, merely a local phenomena and not a national issue.

The RTM does not want the insurgents to gain any leverage from exposing their cause to an international audience and wants to keep complete control over any news reporting. In 2014 the RTM blamed the Thai news media for failure of peace talks. But further delay in peace talks runs the risk of pro-ISIL sympathisizers taking control of the insurgency and upping the level and breadth of violence. RTM wants a one-state, one culture solution and is unwilling to make the kind of concessions made by Columbia and The Philippines to negotiate peace.