The Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 has been awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end his country’s 50-year civil war. Mr Santos negotiated a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group but the peace deal was rejected by a narrow majority of Colombians when it was put to referendum.
About Juan Manuel Santos
- Born on 10 August 1951 in Bogota, capital city of Colombia.
- Juan was elected Colombian President for first time in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Earlier he had served as defence minister from 2006 until 2009.
Background of Columbian Conflict:
- The Colombian Conflict began approximately in 1964 or 1966 and is a war between the Colombian government, and left-wing guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN), fighting each other to increase their influence in Colombian territory.
- The FARC and other guerrilla movements claim to be fighting for the rights of the poor in Colombia to protect them from government violence and to provide social justice through communism.
- The five decade long civil war has cost the lives of at least 220 000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people.
- On 23 June 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC rebels signed a historic ceasefire deal, bringing them closer to ending more than five decades of conflict.
- However, on October 2, 2016, a small majority of the Colombian public rejected the deal.
Understanding Peace Prize to Juan:
Source: The Hindu