By Gustavo A Maranges on March 7, 2023
The peace process in Colombia is one of President Gustavo Petro’s government primary initiatives. During his presidential campaign, Petro pledged to achieve “Total Peace” in the country during his term, which is a very ambitious goal given the huge setback the country experienced during Ivan Duque’s right-wing administration and the oligarchy’s dependency on violence.
The first months of the leftist government in Colombian history have shown that, unlike many of his predecessors, Petro is willing to go beyond the typical political speech dripping in false promises. The Colombian government not only resumed the stalled peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) but also invited all paramilitary groups operating in the country to join its Total Peace Plan.
Petro is showing that he is committed to go along this long and bumpy road full of tremendous obstacles. The most recent one was the accusation against the president’s son and brother for allegedly receiving bribes from drug gangs to be included in the peace process. The most controversial statements came from Colombian Senate President Roy Barreras, a member of Historic Pact, the coalition Petro represents.
Contrary to his predecessors’ typical attitude of shushing these rumors, Petro addressed a letter to the Attorney General’s Office requesting an investigation to begin the necessary investigations be carried out to clarify the rumors. For many, these statements have been a surprise, which says a lot about the national tradition. However, it is the most coherent response from a politician whose main goal is to restore peace and security.
Despite seeming illogical and contradictory, peace is a thorny issue in Colombia, not only because of the social complexity of this process but also because of the political obstacles it faces. It is well known how Colombian most radical right-wing sectors have used war as a political tool and have even enriched themselves with it. Even within the government coalition itself, some groups do not share the president’s view, which generates internal contradictions that hinders the process.
These facts were summarized by the head of the ELN negotiating team during the second round of peace talks in Mexico as “there are always enemies crouching at the dialogue table.”
The accusations against the president’s family could be part of these obstacles fabricated by those opposed to peace. However, the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office is the only one in charge of deciding on this, even more after the president showed himself to be completely transparent and neutral.
Whatever the verdict of the investigations, this recent fact shows something positive: the “Total Peace” proposal has gone deep in society as never before, especially among the groups in conflict. This simple fact represents an unprecedented step forward in the history of a country plagued by strife for over six decades.
Other facts confirming this positive trend among warring groups.
On December 31, Petro announced a ceasefire with 5 paramilitary groups. This step was seen as a good-faith gesture by a government willing to pave the way for Total Peace. One of the most tangible results of this measure is the recent Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia’s (aka “The Gulf Gang”) decision to join peace negotiations with the government.
Meanwhile, the ELN, one of those included in the cease-fire, clarified that such a decision had not been consulted and should be discussed instead within the framework of the undergoing peace talk. Although technically a ceasefire was not agreed upon, both parties have limited themselves to defensive actions while setting up relief zones, where clashes have turned sporadic, and local people’s lives have improved considerably.
This misunderstanding did not influence the development of the decisive second round of talks between Colombia’s largest guerrilla group and the government, which took place last month in Mexico. Rather, it could be said that it was overshadowed by the progress achieved.
The meeting ended with agreements on the process for drafting the peace process agenda and on the mechanisms to ensure civil society participation. Petro’s government keeps insisting on achieving a cease-fire as soon as possible, while the guerrilla are understandably more cautious and prefers to advance slowly but with firm steps.
All this shows the world that if peace is still a dream for Colombians it is because of the lack of will of the ruling elites and their right-wing political representatives who have violently led the country during these 60 years of guerrilla struggle.
Petro in less than a year has achieved something unthinkable just a few months ago and restored hopes for peace to a society deteriorated by the scourge of violence. However, the most recent events demonstrate that those who wish to maintain the status quo are willing to do anything, even the dirtiest blackmail, to undermine and prevent Total Peace.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – US