Reflections on Colombia

As expected, the United States has backed the Colombian government as much as most average Colombians. It is a democratic crisis that has revealed a series of dark holes. On one hand there is the question of violating Ecuador's sovereignty and on the other, the dilemma of prosecuting an "insurgent guerrilla leader" (I refuse to use the word "terrorist" which I find sickening and abused). I know very little about the Colombian guerrillas. I should know more. I know they have been discredited by the media and that Andres Pastrana claims that he managed to place them on the list of "the most-wanted rebels of the world"... but who are they and what do they want? S and I discussed the possibility of interviewing Chavez and I am going to try to arrange it. I'd like to hear his loud side of the story. I am not fond of Uribe because I link him to militarism and right wing measures, but I also have to admit that I know very little about him. He's popular... his iron hand and workaholic attitude has placed him high on the public opinion polls. Some claim he wants to avenge his father, who was killed by the FARC; some appoint him the creator of the paramilitary forces (Autodefensan Unidas de Colombia). His closest allies have been splashed with the tint of corruption and have been put on trial for alleged links with paramilitary and drug dealers... who can be saved in Colombia? The Colombian society has been intoxicated with an addiction to easy money and with a conflict between oligarchy and left wing guerrillas. The white money from cocaine has tempted both sides of the "peso" and has encouraged the rich (or new rich) to promote the formation of alternative protection forces that would allow them to stay alive. This conflict is far from reaching an end... but a nice way to divert the thoughts of the general public has been the prosecution of guerrillas... and their protrayal as "terrorists, kidnappers, left-wing-chavez-sympathizers"... no wonder why chavez is misunderstood in Colombia as well as the Polo Democratico party. Meanwhile, Ingrid Betancourt - the former Colombian presidential candidate and a French citizen, kidnapped by the FARC five years ago - remains the symbol of a meritless conflict between Creole mentality and the old ideals of a stubborn communist organization. She dies slowly in the midst of an undetermined jungle camp while these different factions play chess with their demons. Share