September 07 & 14, 2017 – Hurricane Irene Combo – Issue 711: Is Colombia Experiencing the ‘Peace’ of the Graveyard?

The South American country of Colombia was supposed to be experiencing peace. An historic agreement was brokered between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government largely ending a civil war lasting more than fifty years. While there are other guerrilla groups, the hope was that this agreement would set the stage for a total demobilization of all military groups.

This has not happened. While the FARC demobilized, right-wing paramilitary formations have not. In fact, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), violence against trade unionists, Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Colombians has increased, all at the hands of the right-wingers.

One of the concerns raised in the peace talks that led to the demobilization of the FARC was precisely what that would mean for populations that had been targeted by the right-wing. Assurances by the Colombian government, as well as international sponsors of the peace talks, were offered that steps would be taken. Instead, the situation is deteriorating.

Between July 12 – 17 of this year, for instance, three major assassinations have taken place of a former FARC leader, Afro-Colombian leader and a peasant leader, respectively. According to WOLA, in the last year, violence against trade union activists has increased 31%! This is especially remarkable since Colombia is already the most dangerous country in the world when it comes to being a trade unionist.

Despite these atrocities, the so-called mainstream US media has largely ignored this situation. Focusing instead on civil strife in neighboring Venezuela, one is led to believe that after the signing of the peace accords in Colombia matters have settled down. The strife in Venezuela does not hold a candle to what has been unfolding in Colombia. Given that Colombia is a long-time ally of the US government it is not entirely surprising that the human rights abuses are not front-age news.

The implications of the situation in Colombia are potentially disastrous. Thirty years ago the FARC carried out a cease-fire and agreed to engage in non-violent activities, specifically, elections. The FARC returned to armed struggle when hundreds of its political candidates for office were murdered by right-wing death squads and few steps were taken to redress these crimes.

If the Colombian government and its international partners fail to reign in the right-wing paramilitaries and compel a full demobilization, there is little question but that the situation on the ground will unravel.

[The Washington Office on Latin America has very up-to-date information on Colombia. See: https://www.wola.org/program/colombia/]