Participant reflections: Col Lysander: Colombia visit: Personal thoughts

Conciliation Resources coordinated an exchange between peace practitioners from Colombia and the Philippines in 2010.  After the visits, the participants wrote papers about the experience and possible ways forward in the struggle for peace.

Col Lysander, a Filipino participant, wrote a paper entitled Colombia visit: Personal thoughts about Colombia's prospects for lasting peace and he declared a specific interest in security sector reform.  

He identifies a number of issues, including the need for a policy shift towards peace in order for the state to take advantage of its military victories and current popular support.  He also urges the government to harness the peacebuilding capacity of the country's civil society organisations.