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The strength of Colombia

The strength of Colombia
By Jaime Bermudez
Saturday 24 February 2007

For LA NACION

An unsuspecting reader that sees the information that has been appearing in the news over the last few days on the so called parapolitical crisis in Colombia could think that it is just more proof of the infiltration of illegality in the institutions of a country that apparently has a weak state that lacks legitimacy. The difficult situation of 10 years ago where drug money infiltrated the presidential campaign seems to repeat itself today, with the scandal of the paramilitary links of some members of Congress and personalities of the national life.
Some have even said that this is the most significant crisis that the Government of President Alvaro Uribe has faced. His Foreign Affairs Minister was forced to resign as result of the investigations that involved her brother, a Senator, and her father, also allegedly linked with the paramilitaries. Most members of Congress currently under investigation by the Supreme Court of Justice are also members of the coalition that supports the government.
Nonetheless, although it may seem a paradox, the situation that Colombia is facing today is, more than a political crisis, a sign of the strength of its institution and its democracy. Let’s see why.
Historically, paramilitarism appears in the 80’s as a reaction to guerrilla acts, caused by the absence of State presence and lack of protection by public forces in many of Colombia’s regions. Like the guerrilla, the paramilitaries ended up mixed up in the business of drug trafficking and became a frightful source of crimes and massacres. With time, each of these were able to penetrate the spheres of local and national power.
For years people spoke in private and publicly of paramilitary activity and its capacity to infiltrate, but they were rarely combated with determination.
In 2002, with the arrival of President Uribe and the determination to deal with and eliminate the scourge of terrorism, the State retakes the offensive. The President expressly proposes the need to rigorously combat these groups, but at the same time opens the possibility of beginning a negotiation with all the generosity, that will allow their reintegration into society if they cease their hostilities. Thus begins a process with the paramilitaries that has resulted in the demobilization of more than 30,000 men and the capture of the leaders of these groups. Almost 10,000 guerilla members have also demobilized. The immediate effect is a significant reduction in homicides and massacres across the country.
In this scenario, Congress passes a law, known as the justice and peace law, as a legal framework that permits progress in the negotiation, through the reduction of the sentences and penalties in exchange for the confession of crimes, handing in of illicit goods and the reparation to the victims.
In this manner, the country accepted the challenge of defeating paramilitarism, with the expectation of doing the same with the guerrilla in the future. The process, as is natural, is imperfect and generates intense debates both inside the country and abroad. It’s a daring attempt by democracy. Colombia created an framework that doesn’t allow for impunity: seeks to judge the guilty, discover the truth of the facts and repair the victims.
The origin of the so called parapolitical scandal is precisely the natural consequence of having taken this road. The information being disclosed to the public about the people being implicated comes precisely from a democratic scenario in which justice is operating, the media has an open space to denounce and voice opinions, the government decisively supports the progress of the investigations and encourages publicity and transparency.
The institutional strength consist in having taken on the challenge of facing these groups and undertake a negotiation process in which the institutions themselves, independent and legitimate as they are, define each one’s degree of responsibility. In the coming months, maybe in the coming years, the justice system and the media will continue to link persons, political leader, members of the military forces, journalists, businessmen and national public figures with illicit paramilitary actions. The country and the international community cannot be scandalized because this happens. On the contrary. What would be critical is if nothing happened, if nothing were known, that the infiltration of these groups were the subject of public and private commentary, but that things remained unchanged, silenced by indifference or fear of taking the lid off a boiling pot.
In the process the Supreme Court of Justice in carrying out, in which members of congress of the President’s coalition are involved, the government has expressly requested that Justice act in an independent manner and that it determine the responsibility in each case. We recognize the professionalism and transparency of Foreign Affairs Minister Araujo, and her resignation is a sign of institutional respect that favors progress in the investigations. What is happening doesn’t hurt Colombians.
But we are aware that it is a necessary step, that will surely drag on in time, but that constitutes the only way to surpass the tragedy of terrorism allied to drug trafficking. We can only support the legitimate and democratic institutions.

The author is the Colombian Ambassador to Argentina

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/886170

By Monpirri on Jun 6, 2007, 02:35 in Politics & the war.

Man Tequila says on Jun 6, 2007, 23:28:

The article makes some good points. Certainly it takes courage to look at the skeletons in your closet and deal with the past. Discussing difficult issues publicly can indeed be a sign of democratic strength and determination to deal with problems. The article does make quite a few rosy assumptions. But it is certainly premature for the international community to condemn a process that I hope ultimately leads to a safer Colombia and a higher standard of life for Colombianos.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Frank Rizzo says on Jun 6, 2007, 23:42:

Anddddd.....begin... For anyone in business (politics is business) in colombia (large scale), this is the reality. There is no changing in our lifetime.

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goin_south says on Jun 7, 2007, 01:26:

I couldn't have said it better myself, than JAIME BERMUDEZ That, I think, really seems to be an accurate synopsis of what has happened, and is happening in Colombia.
And, Uribe may or may not get taken down with it.
If he doesn't, then...THAT MIGHT MAKE THE FINAL MARK OF ... HIS STRENGTH.

Voy para del Sur

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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goin_south says on Jun 7, 2007, 01:28:

Rubito, and others.... (but, in this department, you seem to stand well alone - in your despise for Alvaro Uribe): I don't think there is a man alive who could toil through this situation, and come out with everyone thinking he is a hero. But, perhaps if any one can, then it is Uncle Al, himself.

INTENTO: NOT TO build up Alvaro Uribe, but to
ROOT FOR THE GOOD OF COLOMBIA.

Voy para del Sur

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kalder says on Jun 7, 2007, 02:29:

With regard to bashing Uribe: I sincerely don't know enough about the man to form a solid opinion of him. However, I doubt it's entirely due to coincidence that Colombia's security situation has improved so much since he's been in office.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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JMCana says on Jun 7, 2007, 07:31:

Do not believe he wrote it. In the last couple weeks, I have noticed that many of the publications and actions coming from Colombia have taken on the tactic of admitting the problem, then putting tyheir spin on it. It is a very good debate tactic. I also note how quickly the writing has made it to the Colombian Embassy web site in Washington. http://www.colombiaemb.org/opencms/opencms/extras/news_item.html?id=2210
as well as its timing with the visit of President Uribe.

Now compare that with some of the past PR stunts by Mark Penn, who just happens to work for the Public Relations company of Burson-Marsteller a PR firm recently hired by Colombia to "educate the American Congress and others about Colombia." And factor in a similar tactic done by the American PR firm of Sawyer/Miller a few years back when they were hired by Colombian (and received $3.1 million in commissions) the change the countries image in the eyes of Americans.

Frank Rizzo - interesting comment above - member for just over a day - welcome to the blog site. Do you happen to be the Frank Rizzo who works for The Quixote Center/Quest for Peace and in April signed a letter to the American Democratic leaders asking them not pass the FTA?

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