Colombian Peace Process: Interrupted
After nearly five decades of violence and bloodshed in Colombia resulting in more than 220,000 deaths, it appeared as though the Colombian government had achieved the impossible and arrived at a peace agreement with the guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). However, the two year peace process with FARC came to a sudden halt as news broke that FARC had kidnapped Colombian General Ruben Dario Alzate. What many thought was too good to be true, may indeed turn out to have been to good to be true.
FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is the oldest guerrilla group in the Western hemisphere, engaged in a political and military battle against the Colombian government since the 1960s. Its mission includes the representation of the rural poor against Colombia’s wealthy classes, and the opposition of US influence in Colombia, the privatization of natural resources, multinational corporations, and rightist violence. The group is included on the U.S Department’s List of foreign terrorist organizations mainly because it employs kidnapping, extortion, assassination, bombings, mortar attacks, and drug trafficking to achieve its political goals.
FARC’s origins stem back to a period of civil war, between the country’s two political parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives, known as “La Violencia” (1948-1958). During this period entire villages would be targeted for their political affiliations by the conservative government causing hundreds of thousands to flee their home towns. One of the liberal factions that fled was the Communist Party of Colombia. The group organized into “self-defense” units in order to survive against the Conservative paramilitary. The conservative government of Colombia—backed by substantial US support—attacked the Communist stronghold in 1964, prompting the party to formalize into an armed group adopting the name Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 1966.
During the 1980s, Colombian President Betancur initiated a cease-fire with FARC known as La Uribe agreement. During this period, FARC attempted to enter politics via the leftist party known as the Patriotic Union. Seeking constitutional reform, democratic elections, socioeconomic reforms, many members of the party won elections. However, those belonging to the party were soon targeted for assassination by paramilitary forces and Colombian security forces. As a result, FARC withdrew from the political stage and intensified its military campaign in Colombia.
Though the Colombian government and FARC continued negotiations throughout the nineties, armed attacks by both sides continued. The first meaningful peace process started in 1998 when President Pastrana granted FARC a safe haven meant to serve as a conference center for negotiations. She called an end to the peace talks on February 21st, 2002 after the hijacking of an aircraft, alleged training of FARC militants in bomb making, and the kidnapping of several political figures. In October 2006, FARC issues a letter that stated that they would agree to a bilateral cease-fire and prisoner exchange but there haven’t been any negotiations on a cease-fire or demobilization until 2012.
On August 27th, 2012 President Santos announced that the Colombian government restarted peace talks with FARC promising to avoid the pitfalls of former presidents. The two sides agreed to resolutions regarding agrarian development, political participation, and illicit drugs. The resolutions call for transforming territories affected by conflict with social inclusion and the eradication of illicit crops, reintegration of FARC members into political society, and economic development to reduce the need for drug trafficking. The two parties have not yet negotiated the terms of compensation for victims.
In spite of being involved in a peace process with the government, FARC members have continuously sabotaged energy infrastructure in Colombia and ambushed police and army patrols for the last two years. The most recent act of FARC aggression was the straw that broke the camels back for Colombian negotiators. Over the weekend, FARC kidnapped General Alzate in Choco, a state in western Colombia, while he was visiting a community energy project. President Santos suspended peace talks until Alzate was released. Santos also deployed 1,500 troops, 10 helicopters and planes, as well as boats and land vehicles to search for Alzate, the highest-ranking military official ever captured by FARC. FARC argued that they kidnapped the general because Colombia was applying a double standing by conducting military operations against rebels while demanding that the rebels cease their operations against the government.
Just days after ceasing peace talks, Cuban and Norwegian diplomats aiding in the peace process announced that the government and FARC had come to an agreement on conditions to free General Alzate “as soon as possible”. Former President Uribe claimed that President Santos, is “giving the country away” to FARC. Further Uribe claimed that such negotiations are “humiliating.” Though the government has yet to announce what the terms of Alzate’s release are, criticisms within the government will likely increase as policy makers continue to make concessions to FARC.
In spite of this being the closest FARC and the Colombian government have ever come to reaching a peace agreement, the kidnapping caused both politicians and citizens alike to loose faith in the peace process, and may have even jeopardized the peace deal itself. Even once the peace process resumes there still is a great deal of work to be done before a final peace agreement is agreed upon. FARC negotiators have stipulated that they will not accept jail time as a punishment. If the government doesn’t acquiesce to FARC, FARC may kidnap or assassinate even more political and military officials resulting in the termination of the peace process. Even if a peace agreement is successfully agreed upon, it will undeniably be difficult to implement. With more than 6.7 million victims of FARC violence, the reintegration of former militants into society will be controversial and highly contentious. Colombia’s peace process is becoming increasingly precarious, and as negotiators inch towards the final stages of the process, the Colombian people can do little more than hinge on their hope for peace.