Gurudev facilitated a meet between Dr Luis Moreno Ocampo and a peace delegation of FARC led by Iván Márquez
Following the promising peace talks between FARC leaders and Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar earlier in June where FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire, the Art of Living founder continues to support the peace process
Havana, 18th August 2015 - The ongoing peace process in Cuba with the Colombian rebel group FARC that found a turning point with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar mediating in the peace talks at the end of June in Havana, got yet another major boost with the peace ambassador and spiritual teacher facilitating a meeting between the first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Dr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, and a peace delegation of FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) led by Iván Márquez.
The objective of the meeting was to analyze and address the issue of justice in the context of a peace agreement. The first prosecutor was invited by the Art of Living to advise the FARC leadership in his personal capacity, keeping in mind his expertise in the field of international justice. He indicated that the CPI prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will not become an obstacle and could help in the peace process by giving a clear road map to move ahead.
Ocampo explained that the ICC would not be required to launch new investigations since the Colombian justice system had already investigated the conflict. He also hinted at the possibility of giving “alternative sanctions” as “transitional justice” as allowed in armed conflicts.
On his part, Márquez said that FARC wants to end the armed conflict and become a political party to serve the poor and underprivileged in Colombia. Márquez acknowledged an evolution in the Armed Forces in Colombia but insisted that they must tell the truth about excessive use of force during the guerrilla war.
Moved by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s advice of embracing non-violence, the FARC leadership is taking a step towards peace, truth and reconciliation. The meeting with Ocampo is also seen as a major step forward.
It may be recalled that during his three-day-visit to Cuba on 28th June 2015, The Art of Living founder and international peace ambassador Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had several rounds of discussions with the FARC leadership and convinced them to embrace the Gandhian principle of non-violence. The FARC had then agreed to speed up the peace process.
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 over 151 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.
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