“Let us thank and acknowledge Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his humanitarian concern and solidarity to put an end to the longest armed conflict in our America”, says Ivan Marquez, Chief Negotiator of FARC in a video statement. “His meeting in Havana with the peace delegation of the FARC has motivated us to search in every possible way the path that takes Colombia to its encounter with the Gandhian principle of non-violence. With the help of Gurudev, we have placed our spirit to achieve reconciliation and coexistence of a big and benevolent country whose destiny cannot be that of the war”, adds Marquez. “The teachings of The Art of Living are essential to achieve a stable and long lasting peace. We hope that the peace of Colombia serves as a source of inspiration for the world.”
Berlin, 26 June 2016 – It was a historic moment when the FARC declared a unilateral cease-fire after meeting with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the end of June 2015 that eventually was the breakthrough in the years-long peace negotiations.
Exactly one year ago, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, traveled to Colombia and Cuba to help in the 50-year long war between the Colombian government and the rebel group FARC. He first met with Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogota and then held intensive peace talks with the FARC peace delegation led by Ivan Marquez in Havana. During these meetings Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar insisted that the communication gap needed to be bridged and both parties should adopt the Gandhian principle of non-violence and put social justice in the forefront.
Subsequently, on 28th June 2015, the FARC in a joint press conference together with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar openly declared that they wish that Colombia embraces the Gandhian principles of non-violence. Shortly after, the FARC announced a unilateral cease-fire starting on 20th July 2015, which was the historic breakthrough in the years-long peace negotiations and that found its completion with the signing of the bilateral cease-fire deal between the Colombian government and the FARC on 23 June 2016 in Havana.
“I met with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bogota in June of last year and I had the great joy of speaking with him about the efforts we are making in our country to end an internal armed conflict that has lasted for more than 50 years”, said Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos in a video statement. “Later on, with my consent, he met in Havana, Cuba, with the negotiators of the FARC guerillas and urged them to follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence and to cultivate the art of meditation and breathing. Today, I want to thank him for this effort”, Santos added further.
The Republic of Colombia awarded Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the “Simón Bolivar Order”, the highest civilian award, for his peace work and efforts in Colombia.
„My heartiest congratulations to President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Marcos Carratala of FARC-EP for completing the peace process“ writes Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, on 23 June on his Twitter profile. One year after the renowned international peace ambassador traveled to Cuba and Colombia for intense peace talks with the FARC and the subsequent historic announcement of a unilateral cease-fire, the peace process was now accomplished with the signing of the peace deal for bilateral cease-fire.
To help create peace on the individual level, The Art of Living in September 2015 also began to extensively teach their stress relief and meditation programs to the FARC members.
Video messages by Colombia’s President H.E. Juan Manuel Santos and FARC Chief Negotiator Ivan Marquez:
These are the words of the FARC-EP delegation towards Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (in Spanish)
About Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Born in India in 1956, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a revered global humanitarian and an ambassador of peace. His mission of uniting the world into a violence-free global family has inspired millions of people worldwide to work towards sustainable peace. Gurudev is the recipient of numerous awards, including honorary doctorates and state honors. He is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation (1981) and the International Association for Human Values (1997), both UN accredited NGOs active in 155 countries. He is also the founder of the World Forum for Ethics in Business, which regularly convenes in conferences at the European Parliament and around the world.
For detailed behind the scenes insights on the peace talks, how techniques for individual, inner peace originating from India helped in the process and how the contact between FARC and Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar came into effect please contact abc@artofliving.eu .