Colombia/FARC Conflict Resolution



Colombia/FARC Conflict Resolution

Introduction

As the oldest civil war in Latin America takes on aspects of the 'new wars' of the Post-Cold War era? the Colombian peace process and the specific form it might take in the future are a fascinating laboratory to study the 'new peaces' required for the new millennium. The peace process has had its distinct stages and mixed results. However? the evolution? combination and interplay between government policy and insurgents' response have produced two distinct 'historical models' for conflict resolution: the first moulded during the Betancur years and co-authored by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)? while the second was the result of the Barco administration's dealings with the 19 April Movement (M-19). Even though since then there have been variations on the two and attempts at designing alternatives? the two often conflicting models have continued to predominate.

Over the years and despite the many setbacks? there have also been important elements of progress and evolution that in the future could come to constitute a 'third model' for conflict resolution? including new factors? such as a more active role for civil society? greater concern from the international community and the effects of the growing intensity of the war itself.

Figure 1: Regions FARC been beaten

History of FARC organization

Established in 1964 as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party? the FARC is Colombia's oldest? largest? most capable? and best-equipped Marxist insurgency. The FARC is governed by a secretariat? led by septuagenarian Manuel Marulanda (a.k.a. “Tirofijo”) and six others? including senior military commander Jorge Briceno (a.k.a. “Mono Jojoy”). The FARC is organized along military lines and includes several urban fronts.

In February 2002? the group's slow-moving peace negotiation process with President Andres Pastrana's administration was terminated by Bogota following the FARC's plane hijacking and kidnapping of a Colombian Senator from the aircraft. On 7 August? the FARC launched a large-scale mortar attack on the Presidential Palace where President Alvaro Uribe was being inaugurated. High-level foreign delegations—including the United States—attending the inauguration were not injured? but 21 residents of a poor neighborhood nearby were killed by stray rounds in the attack.

Who support the FARC

In March 2008 Colombia forces mounted a raid against the FARC in Ecuador? leading to the capture of laptop computers and other intelligence. The raid resulted in an immediate regional crisis over the apparent Colombian violation of Ecuadoran sovereignty? with both Ecuador and Venezuela mobilizing military forces. The Colombian authorities intially suggested that the raid had been conducted with Ecuadoran approval? but later appeared to back away from this assertion. In return Colombian authorities claimed the intelligence recovered proved links between the governments of both Ecuador and Venezuela and the FARC. The crisis and potential military confrontation were later resolved? but an investigation continued into the allegations of regional support for the FARC.

Cuba provides some medical care and political consultation. A trial is currently underway in Bogota to determine whether three members of the Irish Republican Army—arrested in Colombia in 2001 upon exiting the FARC-controlled demilitarized zone ...