Historic vote for peace
BOGOTA When describing Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia, people often mention that he is an enthusiast for all things British. Such an enthusiast, it turns out, that he plays the bagpipes.
He returned recently from what must have been one of the most important days of his life – the signing of a peace accord in Cartagena to end his country’s long and bloody insurgent war – but for now, he is talking about the pipes.
Santos was a naval recruit when the British Army gave its Colombian counterpart eight sets of bagpipes and a teacher. The young Santos, who looked mar- ginally more Scottish than the others, was chosen to master the instrument. ‘‘I used to play the bagpipes in our parades,’’ he says.
Years later, working in Britain for the Colombian coffee growers’ federation, he was on a trip to Gleneagles in Scotland when some pipers turned up in the hotel dining room.
‘‘I told them I could play the bagpipes, and they were offended. They said, ‘This Bolivian claims he can play the bagpipes’, and we made a bet.’’ Santos won.
Today, the 65-year-old president faces another bet, this one considerably more risky. Colombians have the chance in a referendum to ratify the peace deal signed this week with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. He hopes a yes vote will lead to tourism and investment.
‘‘Everybody advised me not to do it. The FARC were against it, my own people said it was too risky, but I insisted, because it will give the deal legitimacy and make the peace durable,’’ he says. The stakes could not be higher. For five decades, Colombia – blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, natural resources, a growing middle class and a relatively stable economy – has been plagued by a war that has pitted leftist guerrillas against the army, with added violence from para- military groups and drug cartels. Generations have grown up with war as a permanent backdrop – and this, says Santos, is the biggest test for the country.
‘‘The challenge is a spiritual one that asks people to leave aside their hate, their thirst for revenge, and accept that there are people who think differently from them, and that through dialogue and civilised ways, you can live together,’’ he says.
Such language might sound odd coming from a man who built his reputation as a hardline defence minister and who attacked the FARC guerrillas relentlessly.
On taking office in 2010, how- ever, he sensed an opportunity and surprised the country by talking about peace.
‘‘During war, things are black and white. You rally forces around you to beat the enemy ... it’s why I am president,’’ he says.
‘‘To make peace is a completely different type of leadership, where you have to reach the hearts of people and convince them to change their minds. That is much more difficult.’’
Polls point to a victory for Yes in the referendum, although the No side has mounted a noisy campaign, playing on people’s fears that the Farc guerrillas are narcoterrorists who cannot be trusted.
The Times