Congratulations! What matters is someone has been and still is dedicating their live to peace. That can't be said about many a person and many a country's leader. It didn't pass this time but Columbia is nearer to the goal than it has ever been and it appears that all sides are now on board with it. That is a terrific leap forward towards peace.
"The first signs of resistance to the accord emerged this spring, when Mr. Uribe mounted rallies against it and portrayed the president as a “traitor” willing to excuse the FARC’s crimes just to get a deal. Apparently, many Colombians agreed, although they were unwilling to admit as much to pollsters, who had predicted the referendum would win by a wide margin." - Really? Uribe the death squad leader turned president defeats the agreement with what where it not our ally be questioned as election fraud given the polling disparity. I used to read the National Lampoon for laughs, now I can just read the NYT's when I want some satire. I've been to Colombia twice on human rights delegations, and I can say that the NYT's reporting on the situation is obscenely biased. But hey, on to fomenting war on Syria! I mean what else is media for?
I don't believe that given a narco- terrorist group the judiciary system of Colombia is a way to gain a Nobel Prize. Farc are assassins terrorists as ISIS is, farc had committed mass murder and in this very moment have thousands of children in captivity, those children are use as sex slaves or as killing machines, the children are threaten with killing their families if they escaped. Mr. Santos wanted to make those criminals judges and congressmen but the country rejected the deal. Now the Academy gives Mr. Santos a Nobel Prize, the Academy is becoming a partner in crime. The Academy instead, should lead a worldwide movement to obligate farc to release the children, it would be a better decision than to reward a president who with a magic wand wants to transform criminals in judges.
3
Nobel committee really love to interfere with politics. The Columbian people say no to a peace plan they think they gave up too much but the Nobel committee went on to cram it down their throat.
2
As a Colombian I feel that this prize was awarded too soon. Why are we rewarding a politician for failing to secure peace for his country?
Santos must work with the opposition to produce the terms he should have offered in the first place. His failure to meaningfully integrate critics into four years of negotiations have put him in this situation, hopefully, his ability to engage detractors can produce a different result.
He does not deserve a Nobel peace prize for the situation he's created for millions of Colombians. Colombians voted 'no' because Santos failed to negotiate acceptable terms: https://nataliaq.com/2016/10/07/did-colombians-say-no-to-peace/
Santos must work with the opposition to produce the terms he should have offered in the first place. His failure to meaningfully integrate critics into four years of negotiations have put him in this situation, hopefully, his ability to engage detractors can produce a different result.
He does not deserve a Nobel peace prize for the situation he's created for millions of Colombians. Colombians voted 'no' because Santos failed to negotiate acceptable terms: https://nataliaq.com/2016/10/07/did-colombians-say-no-to-peace/
1
Never has a Nobel peace prize been more timely or strategically awarded. Coming in the midst of an existential crisis following last Sunday's plebiscite, the Peace prize was received as a lifeline from the international community. President Santos and those who have worked tirelessly for peace were strengthened.
It's hard to convey the roller coaster of emotions that we have experienced over the last week. I was in the audience in Cartagena when President Santos and Rodrigo Londoño, the leader of the FARC, signed the historic treaty to end 70 years of war. On the stage was Ban Ki-Moon and over a dozen heads-of-state and foreign ministers. The audience was in tears as we watched the signing and listened.
Then came Sunday's plebiscite and our exultation turned to gloom. The "No" vote won by less than 60,000. A deliberate campaign of misinformation prevailed, as well as a hurricane which kept hundreds of thousands home on the Caribbean coast.
On Wednesday evening, students organized through social media a march to defend the accords. Hundreds of thousands filled the Plaza Bolivar, the historic square in Bogotá's colonial center. Dusk turned to night and people holding candles shouted "We want the peace accords now!"
Today the Nobel Committee recognized the extraordinary efforts of the Colombian people, from the President, to the FARC leadership, to the millions of victims who have given everything to reach a final peace. Thank you Norway and the Nobel Committee.
It's hard to convey the roller coaster of emotions that we have experienced over the last week. I was in the audience in Cartagena when President Santos and Rodrigo Londoño, the leader of the FARC, signed the historic treaty to end 70 years of war. On the stage was Ban Ki-Moon and over a dozen heads-of-state and foreign ministers. The audience was in tears as we watched the signing and listened.
Then came Sunday's plebiscite and our exultation turned to gloom. The "No" vote won by less than 60,000. A deliberate campaign of misinformation prevailed, as well as a hurricane which kept hundreds of thousands home on the Caribbean coast.
On Wednesday evening, students organized through social media a march to defend the accords. Hundreds of thousands filled the Plaza Bolivar, the historic square in Bogotá's colonial center. Dusk turned to night and people holding candles shouted "We want the peace accords now!"
Today the Nobel Committee recognized the extraordinary efforts of the Colombian people, from the President, to the FARC leadership, to the millions of victims who have given everything to reach a final peace. Thank you Norway and the Nobel Committee.
2
We wish .. We give ....... maybe, we should skip. The prize does not need to be given every year.
Peace is a very delicate thing, it's hard thing to bring and even harder to keep. However, what does it really mean: freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility, freedom from or the cessation of war or violence. Yeah peace sounds great and when practiced by a country that has a stable government, can truly be a sanctuary, but Colombia is not that country. The peace that Santos is seeking for is for his own self-interest, for him to make a name for himself; oh wait, he already achieved this in the expense of justice for millions of Colombians. Say what you will, but Santos has sold our country, his too, Colombia for fame and recognition. And sadly accomplished it. For that I say, congratulations Santos on almost giving away my country to a bunch of criminals, but thankfully me and my people were able to seize such a nonsensical treaty.
1
We hope that Colombia will be blessed with peace.
1
On one hand this seems like bring awarded the NBA title for attempting to shoot a 3-pointer.
On the other hand, Santos does deserve applause for his attempt at peace. The full award does seem a bit rushed at this point. Speaking with my Colombian friends, they say the feeling is that the people don't trust the FARC. They want peace, but the atrocities of the FARC are still fresh on their minds, and feel they must be punished accordingly, not given rights. And obviously there is concern about what Chavez did with Venezuela.... So leftist views are not popular there at this time.
Colombia is an amazing beautiful country; the people are welcoming and have hearts of gold. I have been several times and can't wait to visit again. I even had a surgery there (and was treated like a king for a fraction of the price) when the American healthcare system failed me (Obamacare has gaping flaws, but thats another story).
Having said that, I feel as though the US media reporting of the Colombia peace vote has been biased. I felt a tone of "how could these awful people vote against peace?" I wish for a moment the US media reporters on this vote could maybe consider a different world beyond their own bubble...
On the other hand, Santos does deserve applause for his attempt at peace. The full award does seem a bit rushed at this point. Speaking with my Colombian friends, they say the feeling is that the people don't trust the FARC. They want peace, but the atrocities of the FARC are still fresh on their minds, and feel they must be punished accordingly, not given rights. And obviously there is concern about what Chavez did with Venezuela.... So leftist views are not popular there at this time.
Colombia is an amazing beautiful country; the people are welcoming and have hearts of gold. I have been several times and can't wait to visit again. I even had a surgery there (and was treated like a king for a fraction of the price) when the American healthcare system failed me (Obamacare has gaping flaws, but thats another story).
Having said that, I feel as though the US media reporting of the Colombia peace vote has been biased. I felt a tone of "how could these awful people vote against peace?" I wish for a moment the US media reporters on this vote could maybe consider a different world beyond their own bubble...
1
As we enjoy many comforts and have the luxury of arguing for our opinions about the Colombian peace agreement let's not forget why this agreement came to be. This conflict has forcibly displaced more than 5.7 million Colombians, and upward of 200,000 continue to flee their homes each year. Colombia has the world’s second largest population of internally displaced persons.
A majority eligible voters from these regions live in fear. Violence is a part of their daily lives. They, along with other victim groups, are willing to move on and begin reconciliation for the sake of peace. Not only did they mobilize to vote but they overwhelmingly supported the agreement. They hoped that their countrymen in urban areas would relent in their desire for Farc blood and would give peace a chance.
Think of them when you turn off your device and go about with your lives.
A majority eligible voters from these regions live in fear. Violence is a part of their daily lives. They, along with other victim groups, are willing to move on and begin reconciliation for the sake of peace. Not only did they mobilize to vote but they overwhelmingly supported the agreement. They hoped that their countrymen in urban areas would relent in their desire for Farc blood and would give peace a chance.
Think of them when you turn off your device and go about with your lives.
South America is a different animal than North America entirely. That they can exist next to each other is fantastic and unimaginable. What SA tolerates, NA would not. How can a peace prize be awarded to a country without peace?
2
The widespread cynicism and criticism of this peace prize in online comments is nothing short of appalling, given that most of those who are not Colombian making those comments see themselves as self-styled anti-war. What kind of anti-war is it to cat call and dismiss someone like President Santos who puts everything on the line to seek peace, an end to a war so old that there are children whose grandfathers don't remember the start of it?
Anti-war in America has lost its way when it no longer seeks peace.
Anti-war in America has lost its way when it no longer seeks peace.
4
The Nobel Prize is not limited to Colombians; thus, commenting on it is not either.
This is a quote from the testament of Alfred Nobel in regards to the peace prize:"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
The last item "peace congress" means to hold peace negotiations, to try and reach peace. President Santos have done just this, to try and reach peace, and as such he is emiently qualified to recive the prize, so any talk of this being rigged, silly, making the prize irrelevent, or a sham; is the talk of ignorants.
The last item "peace congress" means to hold peace negotiations, to try and reach peace. President Santos have done just this, to try and reach peace, and as such he is emiently qualified to recive the prize, so any talk of this being rigged, silly, making the prize irrelevent, or a sham; is the talk of ignorants.
5
I can't speak to his Peace Prize, Drug cartel enmeshed with government and rebels is the government of Columbia without question. Big money big corruption, many rebels are those looking for a cause. The Catholic Church is part of the fabric.
I'm not planning a trip there ever. Totally unsafe.
I'm not planning a trip there ever. Totally unsafe.
1
OMG because here in the U.S where there is terrorism and kids with guns shooting in schools is nor dangerous AT ALL.
6
I just returned from spending a few weeks there. I got constant news alerts from back home while I was there telling me of shooting after shooting in America. I was more nervous coming back to this country given the high levels of violence in it.
I hope he did more to deserve this award than Obama did!
4
Of course not.
Why would anyone deserve a prize for preventing M.A.D.?
Why would anyone deserve a prize for preventing M.A.D.?
1
It ahould be renamed the Nobel Peace Treaty Signing Prize.
Unlike science Nobels where they let the dust settle and results becom clear before awarding the prize this is a rush to judgment based on a bunch of signatures and self congratulatory smiles.
They should wait ten years to see if peace is actually the result. It was not on Oslo, Obama had no tirack record on which to base any award and the jury is still out on the FARC/Colombia deal
Bill Clinton no doubt thinks he deserves a Nobel and expect his wife to start a new ME peace initiative with him in charge so he can try to snag one. Meanwhile Bibi will do whatever it takes to keep the suckers happy as he laughs all the way to the bank.
Unlike science Nobels where they let the dust settle and results becom clear before awarding the prize this is a rush to judgment based on a bunch of signatures and self congratulatory smiles.
They should wait ten years to see if peace is actually the result. It was not on Oslo, Obama had no tirack record on which to base any award and the jury is still out on the FARC/Colombia deal
Bill Clinton no doubt thinks he deserves a Nobel and expect his wife to start a new ME peace initiative with him in charge so he can try to snag one. Meanwhile Bibi will do whatever it takes to keep the suckers happy as he laughs all the way to the bank.
President Santos seems more popular abroad, with those who don't bear the consequences of his policies, than among Colombians. Favorable opinion about him in Colombia is only 12%.
8
On paper guy looks good, but in real life he just sold his country for fame.
The Nobel Prize for Physics generally is awarded many years after the impact of a scientist's work has become apparent. Induction into various Halls of Fame has to wait at least 5 years after a player retires, to be able to objectively view in retrospect his/her accomplishments relative to their peers. Yet the Nobel committee wrt the Peace Prize doesn't operate on any of this type of historical objectivity. They've turned it into a joke, whereas it used to be a great (and deserved) honor.
9
As long as there is truly no more bloodshed for the Colombia people, and those who are frequently poor, indigenous and out of the main cities who suffered the brunt of this three-front civil war with FARC, paramilitaries and other ne'er-do-wells on top of government corruption, discrimination, and world-wide indifference or non-effectual interference, I care not who gets the prize. Just fix the problem: protect Colombia's most vulnerable peoples. They earned that right by birth and blood shed of their friends and children.
3
Tough because drugs rule the world there.
That's wrong, money and fear do.
Considering some of the past winners, I would consider that award an insult.
8
Seems like the Colombian people don't agree with the Nobel Committee. Seems to me that FARC has very nearly pulled off its biggest ransom yet. They have terrorized the country for decades and prospered from illegal activities; drug trafficking, kidnapping and simple theft. Now rather than suffer the consequences and relinquish the fruits of their crimes they are granted immunity and a seat at the table...
The Colombians are among the hardest working, best educated and most thoughtful people in the world. Seems like the people have spoken. God knows that they are exhausted by the violence inflicted upon them but the FARC. Their will needs to be respected......
I just hope that Mr Santos can find a deal palatable to the Colombian people. The job isn't done, the award is premature.......
The Colombians are among the hardest working, best educated and most thoughtful people in the world. Seems like the people have spoken. God knows that they are exhausted by the violence inflicted upon them but the FARC. Their will needs to be respected......
I just hope that Mr Santos can find a deal palatable to the Colombian people. The job isn't done, the award is premature.......
8
Preach.
Typical of liberal /socialist thought that you reward good intentions rather than meaningful results. There is not one of us that is not talented enough to craft a proposal that the people of Columbia would reject. Where is the accomplishment? This is same thought process and reward system that teaches children that "everyone is a winner" and gives out trophies to everyone on every team no matter if they perform exceptionally or are the worst thing ever. If this guy had any self respect he would decline this so called "honor" since he has clearly failed. Looking at his picture clearly his ego is to large for that to even be considered/.
9
Really? Why don't you go ahead and try to do it yourself then. I'm sure you can easily surpass his efforts.
4
As Colombians learned yesterday, Alvaro Uribe and his party, the Centro Democrático (CD), raised millions of dollars to launch a campaign of misinformation and fear around the peace treaty. According to public declarations by the campaign chairman, the campaign tailored misleading messages to the region of the country and the level of education of the locals (e.g., if Colombians support the peace treaty, the country is going to turn into Venezuela or Cuba; young children will be educated in public schools to become homosexuals; pensions will be taxed by 25%). These messages were disseminated in person, by local radio stations, email, and even WhatsApp. Such manipulation of public sentiment in national elections is a crime according to Colombia’s penal code, punishable with 4 to 8 years in jail.
It has been a roller coaster of a week for the Colombian people. Silent peace marches across the country on Wednesday, widely attended even by those who voted against the peace treaty, clearly show that the Colombian people want peace and want a more egalitarian and inclusive society. The Nobel Peace Prize award to President Juan Manuel Santos recognizes the arduous efforts in the past four years to end a 60-year war and reconcile a country. It is also given in recognition to the millions of victims and displaced people. The question is whether Alvaro Uribe will put aside his insatiable thirst for power and wealth, and whether his followers will stop making excuses for all his crimes.
It has been a roller coaster of a week for the Colombian people. Silent peace marches across the country on Wednesday, widely attended even by those who voted against the peace treaty, clearly show that the Colombian people want peace and want a more egalitarian and inclusive society. The Nobel Peace Prize award to President Juan Manuel Santos recognizes the arduous efforts in the past four years to end a 60-year war and reconcile a country. It is also given in recognition to the millions of victims and displaced people. The question is whether Alvaro Uribe will put aside his insatiable thirst for power and wealth, and whether his followers will stop making excuses for all his crimes.
11
No end to the insane machismo of Columbia and no end in sight to the big money drug business.
1
ColOmbia :)
1
The referendum on Sunday was won by a very small margin, less than 1% difference, approximately 60,000 votes, with 140,000 votes annulled, and 64% of the adult voting population abstaining from participating in the election.
The peace treaty was approved by a wide margin in the areas which suffered the most because of the war. The peace treaty is based on the concepts of truth, reparation and justice; it was the direct victims of war who were ready and willing to reconcile with the perpetrators of violence. Opposition to the treaty came from the urban areas, particularly among people who have had little direct experience with the war and whose sons do not have to join the army. The overwhelming majority of these voters are staunch supporters of former president Alvaro Uribe’s and overlook the abuses and crimes committed during his presidency.
The peace treaty was approved by a wide margin in the areas which suffered the most because of the war. The peace treaty is based on the concepts of truth, reparation and justice; it was the direct victims of war who were ready and willing to reconcile with the perpetrators of violence. Opposition to the treaty came from the urban areas, particularly among people who have had little direct experience with the war and whose sons do not have to join the army. The overwhelming majority of these voters are staunch supporters of former president Alvaro Uribe’s and overlook the abuses and crimes committed during his presidency.
9
Bravo Mariajose. You have presented the case. I am still asking myself how it is that those that did not send their sons to the war zone, those whose kids were kidnapped and forced to march through the jungle demand that the campesinos continue to be enslaved. I say continue the peace process president Santos- it is very, very hard to "forget", but without accepting that freedom comes at a cost- that peace is obtained when people are willing respect human life- then Colombia will not have peace. Future generations are being sacrificed because the folks in the city living in the big fancy houses find it inconvenient and not cool to have the courage that it takes to leave the ugly history behind.
2
The Columbian people have spoken and you don't get to invalidate their decision sitting in your home in New York.
Ma'am please pick up the newspaper and see that most of the yes were from Bogota, Barranquilla main cities (maybe two or three small towns), but all of the no's came from these small towns. Towns that children have been abducted from both the Colombian army and the FARC army. They want peace, but they rather have justice like an intellectual human being would want.
Why wouldn't they give it to Putin, he is trying to hard to achieve peace in Syria, isn't he?
6
That is so true. If Putin haven't suggested the chemical weapon swap thing Obama would have invaded Syria and turn the whole country into ISIS haven.
Really wish the White Helmets in Syria had gotten the credit (and more importantly the attention) they so well deserved.
5
I thought when President Obama got the Nobel Prize, the system was 'rigged' - now it's been validated. Santos getting the award is even more outrageous than our President who was in office less than 1 year when he was chosen.
No one knows that 95% of the cocaine sold on the streets of the U.S. comes from Columbia - which just retook first position among global countries distributing cocaine, with approximately 250 million tons of annual product.
The FARC control 70% of the Columbian drug trade - coca production, under President Santos has doubled over the last 3 years. It's now assumed, the FARC will have a free reign to continue controlling the cocaine trade in exchange for 'peace'.
Peace/no violence for drugs.
It appears the Columbian people didn't agree with President Santos - no matter, he still gets the Nobel Peace Prize and it appears the Agreement will be passed. So much for the referendum, or the people's choice.
Drugs rule - even in Afghanistan - the recent Agreement with the Afghan government and the Taliban allow for uninterrupted poppy/opium production....as Afghanistan distributes more opium than any country in the world - something in common with Columbia.
Maybe drugs for peace isn't such a bad idea.
No one knows that 95% of the cocaine sold on the streets of the U.S. comes from Columbia - which just retook first position among global countries distributing cocaine, with approximately 250 million tons of annual product.
The FARC control 70% of the Columbian drug trade - coca production, under President Santos has doubled over the last 3 years. It's now assumed, the FARC will have a free reign to continue controlling the cocaine trade in exchange for 'peace'.
Peace/no violence for drugs.
It appears the Columbian people didn't agree with President Santos - no matter, he still gets the Nobel Peace Prize and it appears the Agreement will be passed. So much for the referendum, or the people's choice.
Drugs rule - even in Afghanistan - the recent Agreement with the Afghan government and the Taliban allow for uninterrupted poppy/opium production....as Afghanistan distributes more opium than any country in the world - something in common with Columbia.
Maybe drugs for peace isn't such a bad idea.
7
The Nobel Peace Prize has become a joke. First the Peace prize to Obama, right after his election to office - he had'nt done a thing when he was awarded the Peace Prize. Then Soo Ki Moon who was under house arrest for a long time, won election and now totally autocratic like her predecessor. And in 2016 the Colombian President for a deal which broke down in a matter of few days. In that case I should win it as I have kept my peace for the last 50 years!
5
Correction to my earlier comment.
I meant the Burmese President Aung San Soo Kyi !
I meant the Burmese President Aung San Soo Kyi !
It seems like refferenda may not be such a great idea, with this and brexit. Democracy may be a good idea in principle, but in practice it doesn't always work the way it should. Obviously, if almost half of the people in this country can support Trump over Hillary, that tells you that letting "the people" decide a crucially important choice for a nation may not really be the wisest move.
"Democracy may be a good idea in principle, but in practice it doesn't always work the way it should."
...said every tinpot dictator who ever lived. Sorry David, your wisdom and "obvious" truths are unconvincing, as is your apparent penchant for democracy only when it suits you personally.
...said every tinpot dictator who ever lived. Sorry David, your wisdom and "obvious" truths are unconvincing, as is your apparent penchant for democracy only when it suits you personally.
The committee obviously didn't do their homework.
They should have considered the best use of the awarded money (peacekeeping comes to mind with the White Helmets one example of a worthy nominee).
They should have respected the will of the Colombian people in judging that this deal was not the road to sustainable, and just, peace.
And they should have remembered that Santos has blood on his hands as he was no less than Minister of Defence during the false positives scandal in which thousands of innocent vulnerable citizens were murdered by the army in cold blood and posed as FARC rebels for rewards such as promotions, time off and money.
They should have considered the best use of the awarded money (peacekeeping comes to mind with the White Helmets one example of a worthy nominee).
They should have respected the will of the Colombian people in judging that this deal was not the road to sustainable, and just, peace.
And they should have remembered that Santos has blood on his hands as he was no less than Minister of Defence during the false positives scandal in which thousands of innocent vulnerable citizens were murdered by the army in cold blood and posed as FARC rebels for rewards such as promotions, time off and money.
3
This was unfortunate. The president may have been making genuine efforts towards peace. But his efforts did not result in peace. At this rate the Nobel shall come into disrepute. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 7 Oct 2016, 2317 IST
1
I think this is actually a very meaningful and strategic gesture from the Nobel committee. They are not only recognizing Santos efforts towards peace, but also offering their support for the continuation of the peace negotiations, despite the setback represented by the narrow defeat in the referendum. This prize offers validation to the path of dialogue and compromise as a way to end the war, over the voices of those who cannot bring themselves to show any clemency for the FARC. It really offers new hope to all Colombians who had their dreams crushed last Sunday. This will be no means taint the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize, quite the opposite.
4
Everybody should remember that Obama himself thought he was being pranked when told of his Nobel Prize. He didn't think he had earned it, either. With both that prize and the current one, the blame should go to the Nobel committee.
I was personally rooting for Syria's White Helmets, an all-volunteer rescue force that has actually saved lives during war -- about 60,000 of them, to be more exact.
I was personally rooting for Syria's White Helmets, an all-volunteer rescue force that has actually saved lives during war -- about 60,000 of them, to be more exact.
3
When the prize was awarded to Sadat, Begin and Arafat for their work on Mideast Peace, no one spoke of any single person as being a "keeper of the process", etc., to the exclusion of any of the others, nor did anyone say they should have excluded Yasir Arafat as a recipient because he wasn't a Head of State. (The latter wasn't openly stated here as being a reason that only Mr. Santos got the award, but it wasn't used then so it shouldn't be used here either.) All three got the award because all three were key in working to bring some form of Mideast Peace to life.
Here, Mr. Santos gets the award...but not a FARC leader, too? Even if you include the voters' rejection of the pact and say that it's (my word) "sufficient" that the effort is being made (and, I'd like to think, made again after the defeat at the polls) by BOTH Mr. Santos and someone from FARC for peace in Colombia (and I don't have tremendous issues with the idea that significant effort could perhaps be enough for this prize), then one must STILL say that the exclusion now of someone from FARC as a co-recipient with Mr. Santos is a glaring and inexcusable oversight on the part of the Nobel Committee for no one has ever made peace alone...like a tango, it takes two to make it happen.
Here, Mr. Santos gets the award...but not a FARC leader, too? Even if you include the voters' rejection of the pact and say that it's (my word) "sufficient" that the effort is being made (and, I'd like to think, made again after the defeat at the polls) by BOTH Mr. Santos and someone from FARC for peace in Colombia (and I don't have tremendous issues with the idea that significant effort could perhaps be enough for this prize), then one must STILL say that the exclusion now of someone from FARC as a co-recipient with Mr. Santos is a glaring and inexcusable oversight on the part of the Nobel Committee for no one has ever made peace alone...like a tango, it takes two to make it happen.
2
Mr. Begin was not a head of state either. He was a head of government.
1
Someday humanity will arrive to the conclusion that "Demo-crazy" should not be the winner takes all, there should proportionality to it. We Should be able to compromise. Half of the people think one way and the other think the opposite, well let's find common ground and see what happens. But maybe that requires more evolution on our part.
And this award was given to Obama before he did anything?
Sweden and Nobel committee need to take a hard look at awarding the Peace Prize to just anyone.
Sweden and Nobel committee need to take a hard look at awarding the Peace Prize to just anyone.
13
The committee that awarded is in Norway not Sweden and President Santos deserves it.
All we are saying is give peace a chance.
JL
JL
4
President Santos is a worthy recipient, and Alvaro Uribe's comment is somewhat encouraging. Now it is time for Uribe to get aboard the ship and assist in bringing her into port. This is, clearly, a pivotal moment in Colombian history.
5
Just because you call it a war, still does not mean it is a crime.
People have to be held accountable regardless of treaty or whether they put down their arms. The Colombian President has done his best and that is why he is being lauded ( rightly so ) ,but the people have spoken with their votes.
They do not want past crimes just to be swept under the rug. I agree.
People have to be held accountable regardless of treaty or whether they put down their arms. The Colombian President has done his best and that is why he is being lauded ( rightly so ) ,but the people have spoken with their votes.
They do not want past crimes just to be swept under the rug. I agree.
8
I have a Nobel Prize. Well, a replica medal I bought from China, as I collect medallions. If you are not minded to go to that trouble, or are hungry, you can buy one in chocolate at the Nobel tourist traps in Stockholm and Oslo.
Sr. Santos's is worth roughly the same.
Sr. Santos's is worth roughly the same.
18
So the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize goes to a man who brokered an agreement so flawed it was rejected by the Colombian people? Maybe they should have just skipped it this year.
23
The Nobel Prize for Literature has long been given for gooblygook that is not literature. Now the Nobel Prize for Peace is being given for something that is not peace.
8
No, I'm sorry but your views are wrong. The award goes to a man who for the last 7 years has tried harder than anyone to break a peace agreement with the guerrillas. The number of dead people in the last 9 months is at its lowest level in decades thanks to these efforts. In Colombia there was a brutal and dishonest campaign lead by his political opponents to discredit the agreement. Nevertheless, peace is still within reach and Mr. Santos has given up yet. Cynicism, like yours, does not help anyone.
7
The award could have awaited achievement of peace. They give one every year.
Mr. Uribe deserves the ignoble war prize for doing everything he could to spike the peace deal.
7
I'm guessing this was all arranged before the vote. The Nobel Committee in Oslo has an embarrassing tendency to give the note to would-be peacemakers who fail: Arafat and Obama for example. Well, actually neither of those tried very hard. Remind me why they won again?
11
I think Obama won because the world in general was fed up with the policies of the Bush Administration. Obama has done a much better job and remember many nations are not happy with anything but war. We do not have to join them or start a war.
What happened with the Nobel Prize for Literature? Congratulations to President Santos.
The announcement date for this year's Nobel Prize in Literature has not yet been set, but should likely be sometime next week.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/
The only other 2016 Nobel Prize for which the recipient(s) have not yet been named is the Economics award, for which the winner(s) will be announced on Monday, October 10th.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/prize_announcements/index.html
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/
The only other 2016 Nobel Prize for which the recipient(s) have not yet been named is the Economics award, for which the winner(s) will be announced on Monday, October 10th.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/prize_announcements/index.html
1
It will be awarded next week. They don't award all the Nobel Prizes at the same time.
Obama didn't win it again? I mean Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Chechnya are all living in peace no? And that "reset" button with Russia worked like a charm.
BTW, what did Obama do with that $1.5 million he "won" last time? Helping "the children" I hope?
BTW, what did Obama do with that $1.5 million he "won" last time? Helping "the children" I hope?
17
Probably well deserved. Now, he needs to 'dig in' until a definite peace plan is concocted, and a path for the FARC fighters to re-integrate into civilian life, and become useful to society (for a change), recognizing that the 'heads' that caused so much harm, and killing, receive a 'just' punishment for their inhumanity.
2
This man deserved it more than Obama did when he got his for nuclear disarmament that was supposed to happen in the future.
It's too bad both Presidents work on their respective projects has failed. Obama did not usher in an era of nuclear disarmament, and the Colombians rejected what, from my perspective, was a fair peace deal with FARC.
I hope that the Colombians can solve their issues with FARC. I also commend the Nobel Prize Committee for their choice, and I hope this award pushes the country towards peace.
It's too bad both Presidents work on their respective projects has failed. Obama did not usher in an era of nuclear disarmament, and the Colombians rejected what, from my perspective, was a fair peace deal with FARC.
I hope that the Colombians can solve their issues with FARC. I also commend the Nobel Prize Committee for their choice, and I hope this award pushes the country towards peace.
4
It's ironic that the prize is given just after the Russians withdrew from the plutonium accord because the US would not carry out its part and turn its plutonium into plowshares.
1
Yes! I was just saying the other day that if it didn't go to someone Colombian, it would be a travesty of justice. If Colombia manages to find lasting peace after this war, it will be a stunning accomplishment.
4
I am a Colombian citizen and to my fellow countrymen foaming at the mouth in anger over both the peace process and the President's Nobel Prize, I remind you that life is about compromise, with your children, your spouse, at work, we learn that we need to sacrifice to advance.
Over 50 years of war and violence can teach us that there is no perfect exit in this messy affair, Nelson Mandela stood arm in arm with the same people that threw him in jail but understood that this was not about him but about the future of South Africa. Without compromise, the bloodshed would have continued.
In Colombia, many people suffered, lost relatives, were born into war and all of us as a nation went through some horrific moments. It will take us decades to heal, no amount of prison sentences will satisfy the thirst for justice, but if the people living in the most violent regions are willing to forgive, why not learn from them and find common ground?
Let's leave a country in which our children and our children's children will look back in admiration knowing we could have remained the same because we did not get everything we wanted but instead we decided to take the tougher, higher ground of compromise.
Over 50 years of war and violence can teach us that there is no perfect exit in this messy affair, Nelson Mandela stood arm in arm with the same people that threw him in jail but understood that this was not about him but about the future of South Africa. Without compromise, the bloodshed would have continued.
In Colombia, many people suffered, lost relatives, were born into war and all of us as a nation went through some horrific moments. It will take us decades to heal, no amount of prison sentences will satisfy the thirst for justice, but if the people living in the most violent regions are willing to forgive, why not learn from them and find common ground?
Let's leave a country in which our children and our children's children will look back in admiration knowing we could have remained the same because we did not get everything we wanted but instead we decided to take the tougher, higher ground of compromise.
83
Gracias, hermano.
3
As a Colombian myself, I applaud your words.
1
One of the best comments I've read about the current situation in Colombia. It brought tears to my eyes. It will be a long and arduous journey but Colombia will find peace. El mundo esta contigo, Colombia!
University of Kansas Jayhawks congratulate our alumni brother (class of 1973) President Santos for his well-deserved recognition. Viva and Rock Chalk Jayhawk President Santos !
14
The Nobel Peace Prize is a recurring partisan political joke.
Barack Obama "earned" a prize for being half-black and not George Bush.
Malala "earned" her prize while being a minor girl misused and abused by her parents, the media, the Taliban and the Nobel Committee.
Why does doing the basic right human humane Golden Rule brother and keeping thing deserve any special recognition?
Henry Kissinger, F.W. De Klerk, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin are a blight on the Nobel Peace Prize.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson R. Mandela are the supernova humane shining moral lights.
Barack Obama "earned" a prize for being half-black and not George Bush.
Malala "earned" her prize while being a minor girl misused and abused by her parents, the media, the Taliban and the Nobel Committee.
Why does doing the basic right human humane Golden Rule brother and keeping thing deserve any special recognition?
Henry Kissinger, F.W. De Klerk, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin are a blight on the Nobel Peace Prize.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson R. Mandela are the supernova humane shining moral lights.
21
Why no mention of Yasser Arafat and Le Duc Tho in your list of Nobel deplorables?
1
It needs to be renamed "Nobel Prize for Political Correctness". The Pulitzer needs to be renamed after "Hamilton" won, though providentially a new source of renewable energy is Joseph Pulitzer spinning in his grave.
1
The blights on the Peace Prize are the homicidal maniacs Le Duc Tho and Yassir Arafat.
Santos's prize is a joke, not because there is anything wrong with him but because his peace agreement was rejected by the voters, so it's not peace. Maybe Uribe will bring peace, but that hasn't happened yet.
Obama's pre-accomplishment (what accomplishment?) prize was also a joke.
Better to reserve the prize for genuine heroes like Albert Schweizer, Mother Theresa and, yes, Malala. A lot less controversial.
Santos's prize is a joke, not because there is anything wrong with him but because his peace agreement was rejected by the voters, so it's not peace. Maybe Uribe will bring peace, but that hasn't happened yet.
Obama's pre-accomplishment (what accomplishment?) prize was also a joke.
Better to reserve the prize for genuine heroes like Albert Schweizer, Mother Theresa and, yes, Malala. A lot less controversial.
2
This demonstrates why referendums are anathema in liberal representative democracies—they amount to mob rule.
7
What would you suggest instead? Every system has flaws. The answer is to plan for the potential difficulties of any system.
2
Would you be upset about "mob rule" if the vote in Colombia had gone the other way? Didn't think so.
10
That's easy. The Constitution provides for the Senate to ratify treaties. There will be a referendum (of sorts) in the U.S. in one month in which the people decide if they want the country to be led by a responsible adult or a buffoon. Then the responsible adult and the legislature will govern through considered debate and compromise, not a knee-jerk mob based on the fad of the day.
I applaud colombians for NOT validating a deal that would´ve forgiven the crimes of the FARC members. War crimes should be punished, not forgiven.
21
The deal would not have forgiven anyone, although the punishments would've been lighter than what many of them deserved. The only problem is to inflict those sanction, you'd have to win a total military victory over FARC.
5
Punishing, not forgiving war crimes is what caused World War I to continue until atomic bombs were used to end it. The criminals can be tried one by one, but to reject the peace process as a means for mass humiliation can't an effective way to solve a 50 year problem.
5
In an ideal world, but sometimes you sacrifice the past to save the future. If the cost of future peace is to have to walk away from some prosecution, then it may be necessary. This would be a moment to consider truth and reconciliation commissions...
3
Balancing justice with peace is an unenviable task. While FARC is certainly a narco-terrorist organization with heinous crimes on its record, the realities of civil war make "good" and "bad" highly relative measures.
May Colombia continue its path towards peace and reconciliation. Enough with the violence and death.
May Colombia continue its path towards peace and reconciliation. Enough with the violence and death.
55
Reduced jail is a good balance of justice with peace and it was offered countless times to Farc leaders.
Santos' offer of no-jail was an insult to the Colombian people, and they are the ones who should have been awarded the Nobel for rejecting an accord that would have endangered democracy.
Now the Santos side agrees that the accord can be improved, in total contradiction of what their endless and overwhelming propaganda claimed before the plebiscite.
Let's hope the "international community" who unanimously supported Santos' lies will recognize one day the courage of Colombians who said NO.
Santos' offer of no-jail was an insult to the Colombian people, and they are the ones who should have been awarded the Nobel for rejecting an accord that would have endangered democracy.
Now the Santos side agrees that the accord can be improved, in total contradiction of what their endless and overwhelming propaganda claimed before the plebiscite.
Let's hope the "international community" who unanimously supported Santos' lies will recognize one day the courage of Colombians who said NO.
3
Can you explain us the "civil war" going on in Mexico, in post-peace Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. and in other countries devastated by narco-mafias?
1
Well put. Thank you!
...for embracing terrorists and those who have killed and maimed their citizens for years??
This is truly a new twist to the concept of a prize for peace.
This is truly a new twist to the concept of a prize for peace.
3
Apparently, this was the best they could do. It ended more than 50 years of horrific violence. That is peace.
14
Not a new twist. Le Duc Tho and Yasser Arafat got the prize, and they didn't even pretend to bring peace.
After fifteen years we are still blocking peace in Afghanistan because we won't reconcile with Taliban with American blood on their hands, so who are we to talk about Colombians being unforgiving?
2
Why not give the award to BOTH Santos and Uribe?
It was Uribe who drove the murderers, kidnappers, drug kingpins and thieves to the negotiating table.
It is Uribe who is preventing the "process" from becoming a shameful, detrimental concession to arch-criminals.
And Uribe did it with crucial financial and military-logistical help from the USA, back in the day when we used our muscle to fight the bad guys and remind the world there was a good sheriff on the beat.
At least the Nobel peace-prize "useful idiots" had just enough sense of politics -- but certainly not shame or morals -- NOT to give the prize to the FARC.
Norwegians - are you not embarrassed?
It was Uribe who drove the murderers, kidnappers, drug kingpins and thieves to the negotiating table.
It is Uribe who is preventing the "process" from becoming a shameful, detrimental concession to arch-criminals.
And Uribe did it with crucial financial and military-logistical help from the USA, back in the day when we used our muscle to fight the bad guys and remind the world there was a good sheriff on the beat.
At least the Nobel peace-prize "useful idiots" had just enough sense of politics -- but certainly not shame or morals -- NOT to give the prize to the FARC.
Norwegians - are you not embarrassed?
6
There's no indication that Uribe was ever interested in negotiating or that he is interested in a better deal as opposed to the chimera of a total military victory and FARC's unconditional surrender.
2
Norway sold its soul when it gave a prize to Arafat.
6
Uribe wisely sought military victory and the FARC's surrender or the equivalent. There was then no valid reason for Uribe or any other President to talk about negotiations - the evil FARC had to be diminished, at a minimum.
However, you are now flat-out wrong. Uribe has said since the vote this week that he does not seek a return to war against FARC but a better deal for Colombia.
However, you are now flat-out wrong. Uribe has said since the vote this week that he does not seek a return to war against FARC but a better deal for Colombia.
3
They are too close to quit now. I hope both sides can see the advantage of peace over conflict and will continue working for a solution.
35
How does the president of Colombia win a Nobel peace Prize when his own people overwhelming reject the peace deal he himself brokered with the leftist rebels? This is almost as stupid as Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize before he attempted to accomplish anything as president.
14
They didn't "overwhelmingly" reject the peace deal. 50.2%, a bare majority, did so.
12
Even though it was a bad agreement he certainly deserves the prize for trying. Congratulations!
13
How cam Obama look at his Nobel and not cry?
A travesty and blemish for history to include him among the giants who have earned it, even in subsequent failure.
A travesty and blemish for history to include him among the giants who have earned it, even in subsequent failure.
2
Only a few giants: Theodore Roosevelt (who brought peace between Russia and Japan), Albert Schweizer, Mother Theresa; it's hard to think of any others.
1
Except that there is no peace deal because peace without justice is as meaningless as the Nobel Peace Prize.
17
Are you as concerned about justice for the thousands of campesinos and "undesirables" executed by the paramilitants, many of whom now serve in the Colombian governments?.
I think that the Nobel Committee was dreaming of rainbows and unicorns when they made the choice of President Santos for this peace prize. The FARC was a relentless gang of terrorists, sadists, rapists, and drug gangs. They are not going to stop their evil ways because of any peace agreement with the government and become choir boys and farmers. And the agreement was negotiated mostly in secret in Communist Cuba under the auspices of Raul Castro. That says it all.
12
"They are not going to stop their evil ways because of any peace agreement" You don't know that and the prize was not for the future.
1
Congratulations to Mr. Santos! Now he must strike a bargain that holds terrorists more responsible for their actions. Apparently the Good People of Columbia are also fearful of some law enforcement and government officials who were/are working with FARC and he must outline reform in those sectors at the same time. I wish him the best of luck in forging a historic peace deal that will help average citizens and perhaps become a world model.
9