Politics and Democracy
The Final Offensive for the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is a Stark Contrast to Other Developments in the Hemisphere
While the eyes of the world focus on the internal crisis in Bolivia and the unfolding tensions in the Andean region, the pro-Bush government of Colombia is engaged in one of its most intensive lobbying efforts in recent memory, a full court press that will culminate with the visit next week of President Alvaro Uribe to Washington. It is amazing how in one country of the hemisphere, an indigenous president, Evo Morales, is openly confronting the United States, accusing it of meddling in its internal affairs by fomenting unrest in the state of Santa Cruz, while in another the president is stopping at nothing to get even closer to the Bush-McCain regime. Read more»
The Ramifications for Colombia of a Split in the Polo Democrático
By the end of a meeting held last week by members of Colombia’s Polo Democrático Alternativo, it had become increasingly likely that the party was going to split into two separate entities at some point in the not too distant future, according to one party member. Many of the more moderate members, led by former Bogotá mayor Luis Eduardo ‘Lucho’ Garzón, appear to be leaning towards abandoning the Polo and establishing a new party. The remaining, more leftist, members, including current party president Carlos Gaviria, would likely continue under the banner of the Polo Democrático. Such a split, were it to occur, could have serious ramifications, not only for the 2010 presidential and congressional elections, but also for the prospects for achieving peace in Colombia. Read more»
The Upside-Down World of Bush and Uribe: Slandering Chávez and the FARC
President George W. Bush yesterday declared, “America fully supports Colombia’s democracy. We firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region.” He then made clear that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s deployment of troops to the border with Colombia, which Bush labeled as “provocative maneuvers,” were the acts of aggression that the United States opposed. These statements represent a denial of reality that is extreme for even the Bush administration. After all, the origin of this crisis was Colombia’s military offensive into Ecuadorian territory. It was this blatant violation of national sovereignty that represents the “act of aggression that could destabilize the region.” And yet, Bush is painting the aggressor as the victim and a neighboring nation that has not violated the sovereignty of another country and seeks to defend itself against a similar attack as that endured by Ecuador as the provocateur. Bush is not alone in his politically-motivated assault on Chávez, the Uribe government in Colombia has also attacked the Venezuelan president and others with blatant lies and gross exaggerations. Read more»
The Death of a Colombian Guerrilla Leader: Diplomatic Distractions and the Consolidation of the Para-Military State
The gruesome image of the bloodied corpse of Raul Reyes, the 59-year-old number two of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, killed in Ecuador in a dramatic cross-border incursion by Colombian government forces over the weekend, is yet another public relations victory for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Vélez. For Washington’s closest ally in the region, the demise of this veteran guerrilla leader could not have come at a more opportune time, given recent developments that were beginning to raise questions as to the overall success of his war against the FARC, and the inherent contradictions in the government’s approach to terrorism carried out against civilians. Read more»
The Bush Administration’s Hollow Commitment to Colombian Democracy
The administration of President George W. Bush likes to boast of its commitment to promoting democracy around the globe, and has employed the same sort of rhetoric to defend US policy toward Colombia. On a trip to Bogotá in January last year, US General Peter Pace, at the time the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that he had discussed with his Colombian colleagues “how to continue the very good partnership, to strengthen the democracy here in Colombia, which in turn strengthens the democracy in the United States.” However, and notwithstanding the pretensions of General Pace and other US officials, the reality is that democracy promotion has barely featured in the Bush administration’s Colombia policy. This is evident from the administration’s stance on paramilitarism and free trade. Read more»
Uribe Didn’t Want Prisoner Exchange Talks to Succeed
Last week, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe ended negotiations seeking an exchange of prisoners between his government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The end of the process came when Uribe effectively fired Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba from their roles as mediators. Uribe did everything he could to undermine the prisoner exchange talks since reluctantly initiating the process in August. His actions have made evident that he never intended to allow Chávez and Córdoba to succeed in their mission. Read more»
Colombia’s Elections Highlight Democratic Shortcomings
While there were some signs of democratic advances in Colombia’s recent local elections, for the most part the electoral process again illustrated the weakness of formal electoral democracy in this war-torn nation. The October 28 local elections for governors, mayors and municipal posts were marred by violence as almost twice as many candidates were assassinated this year than during the 2003 campaign—twenty-nine candidates killed compared to 15 four years ago. Furthermore, the elections were plagued by vote buying, threats against voters, illegal campaign financing, government intimidation, massive disenfranchisement of citizens and outright fraud. According to election monitors from the Organization of American States (OAS), the electoral irregularities undermine democracy in Colombia. Read more»