FARC Surrenders Weapons

Colombia’s largest rebel group completed its disarmament on June 27, giving up weapons under last year’s peace agreement ending its half-century guerrilla war. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC, surrendered its remaining weapons to UN monitors. The handover of some 7,000 rebel weapons, as well as identification of FARC weapons caches, was a key element in the agreement ending a war in which 220,000 people were killed. As the peace process moves into its next phases, the United Nations will establish a verification mission to support the reintegration of about 10,000 former FARC fighters and the implementation of security guarantees, UN Special Representative Jean Arnault, head of the UN Mission in Colombia, told the Security Council on June 30.—TERRY ATLAS