The shock defeat was officially by less than a single percentage point.

The prize "should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace."

The setback does not bode well for near-term progress on U.S.-Russia disarmament.

“If we want to stop the war in Syria, then we have to stop the flow of arms to the different groups in conflict," Father Prakash said.

Once over money and territory, violence in the country has taken a more destructive turn.

Hundreds of Rohingya were killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes in 2012 unrest in Rakhine state, and many continue to be confined to squalid camps there.