Former Colombian President Iván Duque has criticized on Monday the proposal of ‘total peace’ suggested by his successor, Gustavo Petro, as he considers that it would be a sort of «monument to impunity» and would go against the principle of ‘No repetition’.
«The principle of ‘No repetition’ is for repeat offenders of terrorism to receive drastic and exemplary sanctions, in addition to the persecution of the State,» Duque said in his Twitter profile.
Thus, the former Colombian president between 2018 and 2022 criticized Petro for «rewarding» the dissidents of the extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and one of its main leaders, the leader of the ‘Second Marquetalia’, Luciano Marín Arango, alias ‘Iván Márquez’.
«Rewarding FARC dissidents and ‘Iván Márquez’ with ‘Total Peace’ would be a monument to impunity,» reproached former president Duque.
Petro, for his part, was quick to respond to his predecessor’s criticisms, reminding him that the principle of repetition has an «essential foundation», which is the fulfillment of the peace agreements by the State.
During the electoral campaign for the Presidency of Colombia, Petro proposed to implement a ‘total peace’ that promotes the initiation of peace dialogues with armed and political organizations, such as the aforementioned FARC dissidents or the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The Colombian House of Representatives gave the ‘green light’ last week to the bill with which the Colombian president is empowered to start negotiations with the different armed groups in the country.
The so-called ‘total peace’ thus becomes law, so that successor governments to Petro’s will be obliged to keep the negotiations in force and comply with the agreements reached.
