MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ex FARC leader will run for the presidency of Colombia in 2018

Rodrigo Londoño —‘Timochenko’— will run for the presidency of Colombia next year, with the backing of former Farc rebels, the group’s new political party said

Veteran Farc (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces) leader Rodrigo Londono — known as ‘Timochenko’ — will run for the presidency of Colombia next year, with the backing of former Farc rebels, the group’s new political party announced. However, he and other ex-commanders will likely face trials for human rights crimes and it is unclear how they would serve in office if sentenced.

 The Marxist Farc demobilized under a peace deal with the government last year, ending more than five decades of war. They are now the Revolutionary Alternative Common Force party, still referring to themselves by the Spanish initials Farc.

The party is guaranteed 10 seats in Congress through 2026 by the accord, regardless of its success in elections. Among senate candidates will be former guerrilla commanders Ivan Marquez, Pablo Catatumbo, Carlos Antonio Lozada and Victoria Sandino, the Farc said.

The party will also run candidates for the lower house in five districts. The group reiterated its willingness to forming a coalition with other leftist parties, a tacit acknowledgement it may have little electoral pull among skeptical Colombians.

“We manifest our willingness to hold talks with all social political groups and movements to make united lists,” Farc said in a statement. Londoño, best known by his war alias Timochenko, suffered a stroke this year and has received treatment in Cuba.

It remains unclear how Farc members would complete their terms if they are tried or sentenced by transitional justice tribunals tasked with bringing former rebels to justice for crimes like murder, kidnapping and rape.

The maximum sentence the tribunals can hand out is eight years and those convicted will avoid traditional jails, instead doing reparations work like removing land mines.

In a press conference Farc leaders did not clarify how they would serve possible sentences while holding elected positions. More than 11,000 Farc fighters and supporters handed over their weapons to the United Nations during demobilization. Another 1,000 refused to lay down their arms and continue to operate lucrative drug trafficking and illegal mining operations.

Farc has sought to distance itself from the dissidents and the government has authorized air raids against them.

There is a crowded field for 2018’s presidential race, which looks set to focus more on issues like the economy and corruption than on implementation of the deal, the cornerstone of current President Juan Manuel Santos’ legacy.

Security does however remain on the minds of many voters, especially after farmers were killed in a confrontation with police last month.