What about the Colombian FARC removing it from the US ‘terrorist list’? | | Conflict Issues

Bogota Colombia – United States’ removal of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group that has now ended as a “foreign terrorist” group this week has been hailed as an important – albeit late – step.

The addition of two FARC-affiliated groups to the Washington blacklist could pose another setback a broken 2016 peace agreement which ended 50 years of deadly wars in South America, however.

Some political analysts say the government of US President Joe Biden should be careful to ensure that the ousted FARC terrorists are not affected by the new series of anti-violence groups in Colombia.

“This idea is very important and very late,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, Colombia’s chief specialist at the International Crisis Group, referring to the removal of the terrorist group from the US ‘foreign terrorists’ list on Tuesday.

Colombia this month is a sign fifth year about a peace agreement signed between the FARC and the government that led to the removal of about 13,000 terrorists. The ousted FARC formed a political party, Comunes, as part of the process, and Dickinson said many of its former war veterans would remain committed to peace.

But he said a series of “terrorist” attacks in the US had added to the neglect of veterans in Colombian rural areas, creating “serious problems” as they tried to reconcile civilians.

“The fact that the US is only realizing that the commitment to the project after five years has sent a bad message throughout the establishment of the treaty ….

“Unfortunately … this has been fixed and it is very important for this to send a political message that the US is the one that is re-establishing FARC politics.”

Economic reconciliation

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced that Washington is disbanding the FARC because the group “is no longer a coalition that engages in terrorism or terrorism or has the power or intent to do so”.

Blinken said the ruling does not change the way the US is acting in any of the cases or cases against former FARC leaders, including drug traffickers. However, “it will support the United States’ ability to effectively support the implementation of the 2016 treaty, including working with freedom fighters”.

Colombian President Ivan Duque said Tuesday that his government understood the US move. “We understand and respect,” Duque told reporters at a press conference. “We would have liked another idea, but with that in mind, today we are really looking forward to fighting the opposition.”

Arlene Tickner, a professor of political science at the University of Rosario in Bogota, said the sign of the declaration should not be ignored, “in view of the constant national and international opposition to Colombia’s commitment to peace.”

Bogota has been criticized by some countries for failing to achieve peace agreements.

One of the promises of the Duque election when the process of peace was underway was to try to change some of the political issues. final agreement and to impose greater penalties on former FARC fighters through a special peace court. He also said that it is close to providing government funding to former terrorists to establish economic activities, meaning that many jobs have not yet been completed.

Based on this, Tickner told Al Jazeera that the US expulsion “was an important part of the FARC fundraiser, the availability of US aid and links with various US athletes and organizations – all of which were extremely restrictive.” .

Dickinson also pointed out that being on the US list prevented former FARC fighters from reuniting – especially economically – in their new civilian lives. “Any company that was considering recruiting people who were in the military was putting themselves at greater risk for US sanctions, for failing to cooperate with banks,” he said.

Many former FARC members struggled to open bank accounts, which made it difficult for those who wanted to set up. agricultural activities implementing these programs and building a sustainable life.

“We have heard reports of corporations going from bank to bank, asking to be able to open an account for the deal, and it was a great warning given by Colombian banks to cooperate. These people in any way,” Dickinson said.

Add new ‘terrorists’

Along with the ousting of the FARC, Biden officials on Tuesday also announced the addition of two FARC non-aligned groups that rejected the 2016 peace deal on their blacklist, calling their leaders “global terrorists”.

Some former FARC leaders and militants took up arms several years after the agreement was signed, criticizing the Duque government for being “rebellious” after failing to change some aspects of the alliance.

At the time, Duque sought to impose severe sanctions on FARC terrorists in Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction of Peace (JEP), a special tribunal set up under a peace treaty to prosecute former FARC members and military officials for criminal activities. Earlier this year, it criticized eight former FARC officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“It is imperative for the U.S. to take extra precautionary measures in order to prevent the accidental expulsion of displaced fighters who remain committed to the task,” Dickinson said of the new names.

One of the most famous names added to the black list of US “terrorists” on Tuesday is Ivan Marquez, a former FARC official. Marquez announced in August 2019 that the Segunda Marquetalia – the name of one of the newly selected groups – was taking on a “new military role” in the country. Last year, the US announced a $ 10m fine for its capture.

Marquez, who is believed to be hiding on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, spoke to Colombian journalists on Tuesday morning – the first since he said in 2019 – to request new talks with Bogota.

“We want a government that will do all it can to be peaceful, to resume negotiations with the ELN, which will open a new chapter for dialogue with all rebel groups,” he said. National Liberation Army, a Marxist army operating in Colombia.

Increased violence

Colombia’s rural areas have seen an increase in violence while several non-aligned groups, drug manufacturers, gold miners and other small groups are fighting for control of the areas left by the FARC. He also believes that 1,900 protesters are operating in Venezuela, the army chief told Reuters in an interview on September 30.

On Tuesday evening, Duque responded to Marquez’s call for talks, calling him a “terrorist, terrorist, terrorist”.

“The peace of criminals like him is to catch or kill them, and the only thing that awaits him is the same as that of his colleague Otoniel,” Duque said, referring to Dario Antonio Usuga, one of the country’s leading drug traffickers. who was arrested at the end of October. The US asked for its own extradition this month.

Sergio Guzman, a political analyst in Bogota, said Marquez’s announcement was “not a coup d’état”.

“They left themselves [peace] process. And now trying to renew agreements to make this possible and it shows that they are not sincere in their quest for peace, “he told Al Jazeera.

Si [next year’s] elections. ”

In the end, Guzman said the US decision to remove the FARC from the terrorist list was “traditional” – and it would not change the many restrictions that former members of the group continue to face, including international travel or litigation at JEP.

It will not change the political reality of Comunes, a political party made up of former FARC members, with five seats in the Senate and five seats in the House under the 2016 peace agreement, he said.

“But beyond that their ability to vote elsewhere is non-existent,” Guzman said.

Tickner of Rosario University agreed. “When a [US] the decision promotes international recognition of FARC recognition as a [legal] a politician, whether this leads to a greater recognition of the people and the acceptance of the status quo. ”