Colombians March For Peace As FARC Talks Progress: Newest Milestones Include Demining and U.S. Support

Thousands flooded the streets of Bogotá, Colombia, last weekend in a “march for peace” supporting talks between the FARC rebels and the government. Opponents of President Santo's government called it a partisan gathering. Support extended past Bogotá to the Colombian diaspora communities as far as Beijing.

The march comes in the wake of a series of positive advancements in the ongoing peace talks, which are being held in Cuba. On Saturday, the FARC agreed to collaborate with the government to remove thousands of landmines embedded the Colombian countryside, Reuters reports. Such mines have killed 11,000 people since 1990, including 57 childrend in 2013. Colombia has the second-worst landmine problem in the world after Afghanistan.

"The proposal for demining is a first step, but a giant step toward making peace," said government spokesman Humberto de La Calle, according to the AP.

Another positive sign for the peace talks is the support of the U.S., who in the past have funded the government’s military in fights against the FARC. Last week, the U.S. sent a top State Department official on a fact-finding mission in Colombia, and has announced it’s support of the peace talks.

“We think that the courage shown by President Santos and the people of Colombia in pursuing these talks could actually find a resolution,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement on February 20th. The U.S. is also undergoing negotiations with a communist regime and former adversary, the Cuban government.