We the undersigned, who cast spoiled
votes in the recent plebiscite, or abstained from voting, or voted yes, all
members of civil society and as such under Article 22 of the Colombian
Constitution, are entitled to the right to Peace, which is greater than the
mere partial cessation of an armed conflict, such as the one signed in
Havana. It is not just the lack of physical
violence but also the absence of socio-economic violence in social relations:
given that peace is not possible if there is not a daily respect and fulfilment
for all members of civil society, of their civil, political, economic, social
and cultural rights. And that it is
“essential that human rights be protected by the rule of law, so that people
not be compelled towards the ultimate recourse of rebellion against tyranny and
oppression” (UN).
We are conscious of the fact that
the negotiations with the insurgency, may suppress an important factor of
violence, but do not solve the grave fundamental problems of society which
mainly affect the people, who do not enjoy full democratic freedoms, nor
essential rights such as work, land, health, education, housing and public
services are denied to them or cutback, leading to profound social inequality.
Sure of the need to carry out deep
structural reforms that modify property relations and the distribution of
wealth, we require a new Political Constitution and we propose that we struggle
for a broad, democratic, popular National Constituent Assembly that designs the
new institutions that will make the longed for peace with social justice a
reality.
For all of the above reasons, we
have set up a COUNCIL that will promote the National Constituent Assembly and
also because we believe, along with other sectors, that it does the country,
nor the peace process no good that the results of the plebiscite be managed by
the class in power in order to settle their differences and give continuity to
the system that must be changed as it is the cause of the violence and the
conflict we have suffered.
Likewise, we view positively the
beginning of a dialogue for an end to the armed conflict with the ELN and we
hope that its first fruits is a bilateral ceasefire and we note with optimism
that the ELN has manifested that in the entire process it will be accompanied
by civil society. We will be fully
disposed to accompany it in complete freedom and autonomy to highlight our
points of agreement and disagreements: we will support that which means an
increase in rights and reject that which
means a violation, reversal or denial of rights.
The Council for the Constituent
Assembly, in order to avoid a new exclusion, informs the national and
international community, that we will be active partners in the search for real
peace and will make every effort to engage in dialogue with all the armed
actors (ELN, FARC, EPL), the State and particularly civil society
organisations, because it is clear that the inalienable and fundamental right
to peace that all Colombians have, is not conditioned by or subordinated to the
maintenance of the public order of the national government.
The Council for a National
Constituent Assembly that we have set up is open to all sectors interested in
our proposal, join, participate, strengthen it, and thus join forces.
A National
Dialogue Now, both within and outside the Constituent Assembly.
The Council
for a National Constituent Assembly
18th
of October 2016
Signed
Unión Patriótica Bases en Rebelión
Divergentes MP
Movimiento por la Constituyente
Popular-MCP-
Partido Socialista de los
Trabajadores-PST-
Colectivo Nacional Sindical
Clasista-GM-
Memame Colectivo Pueblo
Unes
Colectivo Vida Digna-Ciudad
Bolívar-
Juventud Democrática
Popular-Judep-
Comité San Juan de Todos
Jaime Araujo Rentería. Former
Magistrate of the Constitutional Court.
Editson
Romero. University Lecturer
