The names of the more than 8 million victims of Colombia’s decades-long armed conflict will be inscribed on trees in an expanse of the southeastern province of Vaupes to be known as the “Forest of Peace.

Supported by the Colombian government, the Forest is an initiative of the NGO Saving the Amazon.

The group began planning the project three years ago, Saving the Amazon’s president, Ximena Patino, told EFE.

Reparation for the victims is a key issue for the peace talks between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, which are expected to conclude within weeks with a final agreement.

Indigenous communities, who constitute the majority of the 44,100 inhabitants of Vaupes, will select, plant and cultivate the trees.

Patino stressed that although Vaupes, unlike other regions of Colombia, “has not been destroyed” by deforestation, a lot of trees have been lost meeting the population’s needs for subsistence.

Environment Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said the Forest of Peace model will be replicated in other regions of Colombia, especially those directly affected by the armed conflict. EFE

 

Mitu, Colombia, Aug 19 (EFE)

 

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, after nearly six decades of fighting, the situation of victims in the Colombia conflict can be tallied as follows:

 

• Killed: More than 220,000
• Missing: More than 25,000
• Injured: About one million
• Displaced: Nearly 6 million

By virtue of its close ties to the United States, Colombia has received millions of dollars in military aid over the years. This involvement has also become complicated due to the ongoing U.S. War on Drugs, which will likely continue in spite of the peace agreement negotiated by the FARC.