Peace talks with the FARC leaders in Havana, Cuba. The talks continued for three days.
By Bhanumathi Narasimhan
Director, Women Empowerment & Child Welfare Programs at The Art of Living
You must have all seen the news about the ceasefire agreement between FARC and the government of Colombia.This is really an amazing story! In just one year of meeting with Gurudev, they have now put an end to 52 years of guerilla warfare.
A group of Colombian volunteers came to meet Gurudev in the Montreal ashram in Canada in October, 2014. Very quickly the discussion steered to the 52 year conflict in Colombia that had claimed over 220,000 lives. “We must do something about this”, Gurudev said and sent one of our Latin American teachers to Cuba to meet the FARC.
On 25th June 2015, Gurudev arrived in Bogota and had an hour long discussion with the President about this issue.
During this visit, the Colombian Government conferred their highest civilian award upon Gurudev. In his speech, Gurudev said, “I promise I will do all that is in my capacity to bring peace to all in the conflict in Colombia”. Gurudev lit a peace torch in Colombia before we left for Havana. It reminded me of how we also light a lamp before beginning something auspicious.
On 26th June, we landed in Havana, Cuba. The meetings with the FARC were scheduled for three consecutive days.The second-in-command of the FARC came to meet us at first and within few hours the leader was there to meet Gurudev. A connection was made. On the second day, they recognized him as a Master.
“I have only heard of saints in wooden and stone figures before, but today I stand before a living saint!” said Pastor Alape, one FARC leader. He gave Gurudev two stones – one to charge with his energy and return to the FARC so that their people may touch the stone and feel his presence, and the other to keep with Gurudev as a protection for their land and people. The transformation was phenomenal.
On the third day, 28th June, 2015, The FARC leaders declared that they will adopt the Gandhian principles of non-violence in a joint press conference with Gurudev.
Sporadic incidents of violence continued even after this declaration.
On the 6th July, 2015, from Berlin, Germany, Gurudev had a telephonic conversation with the FARC leader, Ivan Marquez. Gurudev tweeted saying,“Spoke to the FARC Chief Ivan on Monday and gave him a strong message to act on his promise of non-violence and avoid disaster. Am glad he heard me and announced today a unilateral ceasefire from July 20th. I understand he needs a week to get the message out. Let us have patience. This month is a testing time to build confidence on both sides. If handled well, it will be a permanent solution.”
The peace talks and meetings continued. Over 1500 civilians in Cuba experienced the happiness program within six months of Gurudev’s visit.
After this unbelievable turn of events, a journalist asked our teacher from Colombia what it was that Gurudev said to make this happen. The truth is it was not what was said, but Who said it that made all the difference.
Now, exactly a year later, they have come forward to make a historic peace pact. The seeds for peace were sown in a positive atmosphere in the presence of Gurudev and they have blossomed so beautifully. This is another victory for truth, another instance where Love has moved the world!
This is a video of the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos speaking about what happened. you must see it!
Courtesy: LinkedIn