THE COLOMBIAN CONFLICT
Osvaldo Jordan
March 28, 2008
WHO ARE THE ACTORS?
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Foreign Governments
The Colombian Government
The Military.
Left-Wing Guerrillas
Foreign and National Corporations,
Business People and Landowners.
• Paramilitary
• Narcotraffickers
• Rural Communities
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
• Left-oriented governments have lent support to
the Colombian guerrillas – USSR, Cuba, and
Venezuela?
• The US has provided training, technology,
intelligence, and financial support to the
Colombian Military, and the Paramilitary?
• The Colombian refugee crisis has spilled over
the neighboring countries, especially Venezuela,
Ecuador, and Panama.
• Colombians have migrated to many different
countries (=DIASPORA)
Is the Colombian Conflict a National or an
International Problem?
THE COLOMBIAN GOVERMENT
• Between 1978 to present, the Government has
officially moved back and forth from a negotiated
to a military solution.
• With the exception of the Samper Administration,
the Colombian Government has cooperated with
the US in the War against Drugs.
• However, the Government has never been able to
maintain control over the whole territory, and
eliminate human rights violations.
• In spite of this lack of strength, every Colombian
administration has argued that the conflict is
national, and not an international problem
THE MILITARY
• The Military have received continuous support
from the US Government, passing from the Cold
War into the War on Drugs (Andean Initiative), and
lately the War on Terror (Plan Colombia).
• The Military began organizing the paramilitary as
self-defense groups since the 1960s, and
especially after the 1980s.
• The Military themselves have committed terrible
violations of human rights, and have supported or
overlooked violent actions by the paramilitary.
LEFT WING GUERRILLAS
• After the end of the Cold War, both FARC and ELN
came to rely increasingly on narcotraffick,
kidnappings, “private contributions”, and other
illegal activities.
• They have always controlled some parts of the
country with or without the support of the
communities living there.
• They have also received support from foreign
governments and organizations.
• They reached unprecedented power with the
creation of a “Distension Zone” by President
Pastrana, yet were obliged to retreat with the arrival
of Alvaro Uribe.
CORPORATIONS AND PRIVATE
INDIVIDUALS
• They were targeted by the guerrillas for
punishment, extortion, and publicity.
• They were obliged to pay “war taxes” and
other contributions.
• They also began organizing and financing
the paramilitary.
• They have also greatly benefited from the
displacement of rural communities, as well
as narcotraffick and other illegal activities..
THE PARAMILITARY
• These so-called self-defense organizations grew in
strength, under the leadership of Carlos Castano.
• They have the support of landowners, business,
and the Colombian Military. What about the role of
the Colombian and the US governments?
• They were responsible for the worst human rights
violations in the 1990s
• The AUC were formed in 1997, and opposed to the
peace process of the Pastrana administration.
• However, immediately after the arrival of Alvaro
Uribe, they began to demobilize, and return to
civilian life.
• They reject prosecution and extradition to the US,
arguing that they were always serving the country.
NARCOTRAFFICK
• After the demise of the Medellin and Cali
Cartels, the business was taken over by
small and medium sized organizations.
• They rely heavily on criminal gangs, and
networks and logistics provide by irregular
groups, both guerrillas and paramilitaries.
• In spite of the US efforts, the drug business
has increased and diversified, with the
introduction of opium (heroin), and new
routes in South America, Central America
and the Caribbean.
THE DISPLACED COMMUNITIES
• Millions of Colombian citizens have been victims
of the violence of the guerrillas, the Military and
the paramilitary.
• There are more than 2 million Internally
Displaced, as well as an International Diaspora.
• Poor peasants, Indigenous Peoples and AfroColombians have been disproportionally
affected, although the guerrillas and the
paramilitaries have also threatened, attacked,
kidnapped, and raised “war taxes” on middle
class and wealthy citizens.
• In the 1990s, Communities of Peace began to
be organized in different parts of the country.
What exactly are the Colombian
Irregular Groups?
COMMUNISTS (1964-1989) – COLD WAR. FARC,
ELN, EPL, and M-19.
NARCOTRAFFICKERS (1989-2007) - WAR ON
DRUGS. FARC, ELN, AND AUC?
TERRORISTS (2001-2007) – WAR ON TERROR.
FARC, ELN, AND AUC?
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS?