Colombia-FARC Peace Deal Relies on Forgiveness

Colombia-FARC Peace Deal Relies on Forgiveness

Gloria was 10 years old when armed rebels burst into her home at night, forced her father to his knees and shot him twice in the back of the head as the family watched. The guerrillas never said why. When she was 14, the men returned. Four of them raped her.

Now 20, Gloria (whose real name is not being used to protect her safety) is putting her life back together in the colonial town of Popayán, about an eight-hour bus ride from her troubled Andean village.

Far from family members and friends, Gloria says she harbors no hatred toward the men who shattered her life.

“In the middle of it all,” she says, “something good came out of it.”

Colombia is, perhaps, closer than ever to signing a peace deal that would put an end to a half-century-old conflict that has left at least 220,000 dead and forced some 5.7 million people to flee their homes.

Read Full Article »
Comment
Show commentsHide Comments

Related Articles