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Gallery|FARC

Civilians, FARC hold vigil following revised peace deal

After the rejection of the initial treaty, the Colombian government signed a revised peace deal with FARC rebels.

VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
A vigil attendee arrives at a FARC camp in the Yari plains area carrying a white flag. People gathered at the vigil were from other regions as well as from the capital, Bogota. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
By Mauricio Morales
Published On 6 Dec 20166 Dec 2016
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A revolutionary Marxist guerrilla group created by farmers, the FARC, evolved to become the largest guerrilla group in South America.

Following 52 years of conflict involving various armed groups, right-wing paramilitaries, government forces, drug cartels and leftist guerrillas, the country was left with more than 200,000 people dead, 27,000 kidnapped, and six million displaced from their homes.

More than 30,000 remain disappeared from the last war in the Americas.

On September 26, Colombia President and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Juan Manuel Santos signed a peace treaty with the top FARC commander after four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba.

The pact was signed in the presence of UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon as well as top leaders of the world.

Against all odds and opinion polls, the treaty was rejected in a referendum in October following an intense campaign by opposition parties and led by former President Alvaro Uribe.

FARC convened a “national vigil for peace” on October 30, a unique occasion that allowed civilian and religious groups to enter its camps and open a dialogue.

A revised peace deal was finally validated through Congress on November 30.

VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Many came with messages for the guerrilla fighters, staying at the FARC camp and singing songs. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
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VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Farmers from the vast region of the Yari plains also attend the vigil that took place in this historic area that has seen heavy fighting in the past. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
FARC rebels from nearby camps arrived at the meeting area in 'El Diamente' in the south Colombian Yari plains. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Family members take advantage of the vigil to visit the guerrilla family members. Before the ceasefire, and in the height of the conflict, FARC members lost contact with family members for many years. [Mauricio Morales/ Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
FARC fighters leave their weapons in the trucks as they arrived for the vigil unarmed. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Before the peace process started, female FARC fighters were banned from having babies. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
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VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Some female fighters are now starting to think about having children. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
A member of the FARC media team sets up the equipment to cover the event. Since the peace process started, FARC has been increasing its media activity, incorporating some of the fighters in communication activities. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
A member of FARC's online news magazine is seen interviewing an attendee from Bogota. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
A guerrilla member stands with her family which travelled across the country to reunite with the girl who joined FARC seven years ago, aged just 13. Her family did not hear about her until the ceasefire seven months ago. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
A member of FARC with an amputated arm playing with a girl who attended the vigil with her family. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Civil groups and FARC members shared activities in support of the continuation and implementation of the peace agreement at the vigil. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Moncayo, right, the father of an army soldier held in captivity by FARC for more than 12 years, stands with Carlos Antonio Lozada, a FARC commander and one of the main FARC leaders working for the peace process. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]
VIGIL FOR PEACE IN A FARC CAMP / Please Do Not Use
Chivas, the traditional buses, begin their 18-hour journey back to Bogota with students, civilians, religious groups and artist groups that gathered for the vigil. [Mauricio Morales/Al Jazeera]


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