Colombia, FARC rebel group agree to tentative peace deal

HAVANA, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The longest-running armed conflict in the South American continent may soon end as Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC, agreed on Wednesday to a peace deal deadline.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño, also known as Timoleón Jiménez or Timochenko, shook hands in Havana, Cuba, where peace negotiations have been held since 2012 -- facilitated by Cuban President Raul Castro.

Both sides reached an agreement on the most difficult issue in negotiations: how to punish human rights abuses committed during the five-decade-long conflict.

More than 220,000 people have died and 5 million have been internally displaced due to the Colombian conflict since the FARC's founding in 1964. The militant rebel group has been involved in drug-trafficking, kidnapping and other illicit activity to fund its insurgency campaign.

FARC agreed to surrender its weapons within 60 days of a final peace agreement being signed.

A peace tribunal and special courts will be set up to handle crimes related to the conflict perpetrated by the FARC or Colombian security forces. War crimes and crimes against humanity will be prosecuted, but combatants will receive amnesty otherwise.

Prison or manual labor aimed at reducing the conflict's impact, such as clearing landmines, will be used as punishment to those found guilty.

A referendum will be held in Colombia asking citizens whether they agree to the peace deal that is being finalized before the March 12, 2016, deadline.

"We need to finish the last few points, but the conclusion is only one: Peace is possible and is closer than ever!" President Santos said in a statement. "We are approaching the end of the longest armed conflict that has lived in Colombia. We will do what is necessary so that never again will happen!"

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the notion of peace in Colombia.

"I am very pleased to see that the Colombian government and FARC have reached major breakthroughs on the outstanding issues in the peace process negotiations: transitional justice, disarmament and a timetable for signing a final agreement," Kerry said in a statement. "The announcements made today at the peace talks in Havana represent historic progress toward a final peace agreement to end more than 50 years of armed conflict. Peace is now ever closer for the Colombian people and millions of conflict victims."

Pope Francis, who is currently on a six-day visit to the United States, also played an important role in helping harbor peace negotiations between the two sides. He has continuously urged for peace and dialogue within Colombia.