Both President Juan Manuel Santos and the highest representative of government negotiators, Humberto de la Calle, have admitted that the current phase of talks has not been free of tensions and difficult moments, but reiterated their confidence that the two teams will achieve a conclusive consensus to unlock the very advanced peace process.
After the ‘no’ result in the referendum, the president opened a national debate with those who had rejected the agreement with a view to modifying the historical document.
One of the thorniest issues is that of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), under which courts would be required to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for the war, with the premises of zero impunity for crimes against humanity and benefits such as pardons and amnesties in cases of political and related crimes.
