Colombia’s most important vote in recent history marred by disinformation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

Colombia’s most important vote in recent history marred by disinformation

written by Adriaan Alsema September 6, 2016

Colombia’s voters are bombarded with disinformation by rival campaigns ahead of a referendum on a controversial peace deal with leftist FARC rebels, possibly the country’s most important vote in decades.

The plebiscite in which Colombia will either ratify or reject a peace deal with the country’s largest and longest-running rebel group will be held on October 2, six days after President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño, a.k.a. “Timochenko,” formally sign peace.

The stakes for the country are enormous; the deal seeks to end 52 years of armed conflict that has left more than 265,000 dead, 45,000 “disappeared” and millions displaced.

. . .

The “No” campaign, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, has taken its campaign well beyond the FARC deal, including accusations of political persecution and implicit threats Colombia is heading towards communism.


Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombias-important-vote-recent-history-marred-disinformation/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Santos calls on Colombia’s elites to support peace with FARC rebels

Santos calls on Colombia’s elites to support peace with FARC rebels

written by Adriaan Alsema September 5, 2016

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos on Sunday asked his country’s elites to support peace with the FARC.

According to the president, the country’s business and political elites have shown more resistance to peace with the country’s oldest rebel group than victims have.

. . .

Colombia is one of the world’s most unequal country in the world, a fact analysts say is one of the key causes of the 52-year armed conflict.

http://colombiareports.com/santos-colombia-elites-peace-farc/