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NousDefionsDoc · 02-02-2004, 09:26

Gaviria's Risky Foray into Colombia's Peace Process

By Marcela Sanchez
Special to washingtonpost.com
Thursday, January 29, 2004; 4:10 PM

This city awoke to a storm of sorts this week that had nothing to do with snow or freezing rain. It was a diplomatic commotion triggered by the sudden and risky move of Cesar Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

Gaviria and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced over the weekend that the OAS would send a mission to monitor Uribe's initiative that intends to disband Colombia's illegal self-defense groups, aka paramilitaries, and help them re-enter society. With that, Uribe gained what he so urgently needed -- international backing for his peace plan.

Gaviria did not bother to tell his bosses at the OAS that he planned to negotiate the deal. Instead, by fiat, more or less, he committed the member states and the organization to virtually irrevocable support for a proposal that even the Colombian Congress has yet to approve and that many in the international community, including the United Nations, still question.

Gaviria's haste is cause for concern. Yet next Wednesday, when he is scheduled to explain his actions to the OAS Permanent Council, its members will likely give Gaviria a slap on the wrist for his presumptuous move, followed by a resolution approving his agreement with Uribe.

But if this is all they do, OAS ambassadors will have squandered the opportunity to question Gaviria about the current initiative and whether the OAS should be backing a process that doesn't address the culture of impunity at the core of Colombian paramilitary violence.

The paramilitaries are some of Colombia's most vicious killers, responsible for the murders of hundreds of leftist politicians, labor leaders and innocent civilians. They have been collaborating with drug traffickers for years. Opposite the leftist guerrillas, paramilitaries have stood on the front lines of Colombia's long and brutal internal conflict. Both groups are considered terrorist organizations by the United States and some of their leaders face extradition to the United States for drug trafficking.

But unlike the guerrillas, the paras have a twisted claim of legitimacy -- the dirty little secret behind Colombia's dirty war. The proliferation of armed self-defense was long ignored by polite society, and not long ago Colombian laws granted them legal status.

As it stands, Uribe's initiative tries to offer the fighters and their leaders a deal attractive enough for them to lay down their weapons. But a real effort to dismantle the paramilitary legacy in Colombia needs to do much more than disarm those who pull the triggers.

Those who legitimized paramilitary activity into law, those who supported their actions financially or by conveniently looking the other way as they committed their atrocities, must own up to their responsibility in a public manner. It is exactly this segment of Colombian society that must demonstrate real contrition to pave the road to lasting peace.

If anyone understands what's at stake, Gaviria ought to. It was Gaviria, as president of Colombia less than 15 years ago, who negotiated a deal with drug traffickers who feared extradition to the United States so intensely that they declared war against all Colombians. The deal was initially very tough and required traffickers to confess to every crime and be prepared to face long prison sentences.

But the traffickers balked and continued their car-bomb war killing scores of people and effectively coercing Gaviria into accepting their own terms of surrender. The negotiations ended with Pablo Escobar, the leader of the ruthless Medellin Cartel, banished to "La Catedral,'' a Colombian "prison" of unmatched luxury, replete with Jacuzzis, large-screen televisions and computers.

Eventually, Escobar got bored and escaped, only to be killed on the rooftops of Medellin by Colombian police. Gaviria had successfully hunted Escobar down. But lopping off the main branch didn't get to the root.

In fact, many Colombians would say, it took the scandalous, partially narco-financed election of Gaviria's successor, Ernesto Samper, for Colombians to seriously address another of Colombia's dirty secrets: the penetration of drug trafficking into Colombia's society and institutions.

Gaviria has taken a disrespectful, arrogant and unilateral action to deliver OAS' support to Colombia. The haste of Gaviria's move should well raise some eyebrows, and not for the egos he may have hurt by his audacity.

The crucial question now is what kind of process Uribe is willing to deliver for Colombia's future. Haste and history should make us wary of half measures and of the motivations of a part of Colombian society that would rather not face the truth of their culpability in Colombia's conflict.

Marcela Sanchez's e-mail address is desdewash@washpost.com.

02-02-2004, 09:26	#5
NousDefionsDoc Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: LA Posts: 1,653	Gaviria's Risky Foray into Colombia's Peace Process By Marcela Sanchez Special to washingtonpost.com Thursday, January 29, 2004; 4:10 PM This city awoke to a storm of sorts this week that had nothing to do with snow or freezing rain. It was a diplomatic commotion triggered by the sudden and risky move of Cesar Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organization of American States. Gaviria and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced over the weekend that the OAS would send a mission to monitor Uribe's initiative that intends to disband Colombia's illegal self-defense groups, aka paramilitaries, and help them re-enter society. With that, Uribe gained what he so urgently needed -- international backing for his peace plan. Gaviria did not bother to tell his bosses at the OAS that he planned to negotiate the deal. Instead, by fiat, more or less, he committed the member states and the organization to virtually irrevocable support for a proposal that even the Colombian Congress has yet to approve and that many in the international community, including the United Nations, still question. Gaviria's haste is cause for concern. Yet next Wednesday, when he is scheduled to explain his actions to the OAS Permanent Council, its members will likely give Gaviria a slap on the wrist for his presumptuous move, followed by a resolution approving his agreement with Uribe. But if this is all they do, OAS ambassadors will have squandered the opportunity to question Gaviria about the current initiative and whether the OAS should be backing a process that doesn't address the culture of impunity at the core of Colombian paramilitary violence. The paramilitaries are some of Colombia's most vicious killers, responsible for the murders of hundreds of leftist politicians, labor leaders and innocent civilians. They have been collaborating with drug traffickers for years. Opposite the leftist guerrillas, paramilitaries have stood on the front lines of Colombia's long and brutal internal conflict. Both groups are considered terrorist organizations by the United States and some of their leaders face extradition to the United States for drug trafficking. But unlike the guerrillas, the paras have a twisted claim of legitimacy -- the dirty little secret behind Colombia's dirty war. The proliferation of armed self-defense was long ignored by polite society, and not long ago Colombian laws granted them legal status. As it stands, Uribe's initiative tries to offer the fighters and their leaders a deal attractive enough for them to lay down their weapons. But a real effort to dismantle the paramilitary legacy in Colombia needs to do much more than disarm those who pull the triggers. Those who legitimized paramilitary activity into law, those who supported their actions financially or by conveniently looking the other way as they committed their atrocities, must own up to their responsibility in a public manner. It is exactly this segment of Colombian society that must demonstrate real contrition to pave the road to lasting peace. If anyone understands what's at stake, Gaviria ought to. It was Gaviria, as president of Colombia less than 15 years ago, who negotiated a deal with drug traffickers who feared extradition to the United States so intensely that they declared war against all Colombians. The deal was initially very tough and required traffickers to confess to every crime and be prepared to face long prison sentences. But the traffickers balked and continued their car-bomb war killing scores of people and effectively coercing Gaviria into accepting their own terms of surrender. The negotiations ended with Pablo Escobar, the leader of the ruthless Medellin Cartel, banished to "La Catedral,'' a Colombian "prison" of unmatched luxury, replete with Jacuzzis, large-screen televisions and computers. Eventually, Escobar got bored and escaped, only to be killed on the rooftops of Medellin by Colombian police. Gaviria had successfully hunted Escobar down. But lopping off the main branch didn't get to the root. In fact, many Colombians would say, it took the scandalous, partially narco-financed election of Gaviria's successor, Ernesto Samper, for Colombians to seriously address another of Colombia's dirty secrets: the penetration of drug trafficking into Colombia's society and institutions. Gaviria has taken a disrespectful, arrogant and unilateral action to deliver OAS' support to Colombia. The haste of Gaviria's move should well raise some eyebrows, and not for the egos he may have hurt by his audacity. The crucial question now is what kind of process Uribe is willing to deliver for Colombia's future. Haste and history should make us wary of half measures and of the motivations of a part of Colombian society that would rather not face the truth of their culpability in Colombia's conflict. Marcela Sanchez's e-mail address is desdewash@washpost.com. __________________ Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home. He knows only The Cause. Still want to quit?
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