Colombian Government Forms Truth Commission With FARC Amid Peace Talks

FARC and Colombian government have agreed to create a joint truth commission to look into the crimes committed during the country’s civil war.

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the country’s government have agreed to create a joint truth commission to look into the crimes committed during the country’s civil war, a move that comes amid protracted peace talks.

"We celebrate the creation of the Truth Commission in Havana. It is an important step," Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos wrote on his official Twitter page on Thursday, adding that Colombia’s government needs to move forward with "other points" in its peace negotiations with FARC.

The commission will consist of 11 members and will gather testimony from victims and witnesses of Colombia’s civil war, although it will not be able to use the information to build criminal cases against FARC members, government troops or other fighters.

The Truth Commission will start operating once a final peace deal is reached between FARC and Colombia’s government.

The FARC rebel group was established in 1964 as the military wing of the country's Communist Party. Since then, military confrontation between FARC and the Colombian government has been ongoing, with over 200,000 people having been killed as a result.

The two sides have been engaged in peace talks since November, 2012, and have reached a number of important agreements including one on landmine removal. The issue of punishment for those responsible for killings and kidnappings during the civil war remains unresolved.