The US sought this week to remind the world of a terrorist threat to democracy not found in the deserts of Afghanistan but from within the Americas.
Hideouts for FARC guerrillas are said to be located in Venezuelan territory, close to the border with Colombia. Hugo Chavez's government stands accused of supporting the terrorist group's war against the Colombian state. Chavez refutes this.
What's the background, and what are the politics behind this?
The FARC, established in 1964 as the military wing of the Colombian communist party, are perhaps the world's most infamous Marxist rebels. Their (original) battle? - To overthrow the Colombian government and install a communist state.
The FARC's presence is mainly on Colombian soil. The Colombian government - with the help of millions of dollars in US aid - are locked in a battle to end their reign of terror. Many claim the government has all but won the battle, that the FARC is nearing the end.
So, much to Colombia - and the US's - annoyance the FARC continues to occupy territory in neighbouring countries, Ecuador and Venezuela. Ecuador and Venezuela's socialist governments have long been accused of supporting the FARC's presence - or at the very least not deploying sufficient effort to hasten their removal.
This week Washington shone a spotlight once again on this threat, directly accusing four officials in Hugo Chavez's government of supporting FARC operations in Venezuela - providing them security, and training.
Despite Chavez's denials, long unanswered questions about the Venezuelan chief's involvement with the Colombian revolutionary forces remain. The US is keen to step up the pressure on the Venezuelan head of state - who faces elections next year.
Recent history of the Chavez/FARC relationship.
Chavez has publicly expressed what can be viewed as sympathy for the the FARC, seeking their reclassification as 'belligerents', downgrading significantly the US-given label of terrorist organisation.
Proof of safe-haven? In one of Alvaro Uribe's last acts as Colombian president - in July 2010 - he sent the country's ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS) to convene special session of the permanent council. Ambassador Hoyos therein presented evidence that 1,500 FARC guerillas were living in 75 camps across the border in Venezuela. Colombia's argument - that Venezuela was failing to meet its international commitment to combat narcoterrorism, and that as result an international verification team should be sent in immediately to assess both the level of FARC activity in Venezuela, and the complicity of the government.
Caracas denied these accusations. Within hours of the meeting, Chavez had severed relations with Colombia. He then moved troops to the border and in turn accused Bogota of not doing enough to prevent its internal conflict from spilling over into Venezuela. The resulting diplomatic storm blew frosty political winds across the region.
Most recently a report published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in August this year, claimed not only that the FARC's ability to operate in Venezuelan territory was key to its continued survival, but that Chavez himself viewed the rebels as a useful ally against the US.
What's happened since Santos came to power?
Santos has struck a different tone to that of Alvaro Uribe. On taking office, Santos ushered in a period of rapprochement with Chavez (and President Correa of Ecuador), eventually re-establishing diplomatic ties with the two nations.
Relations had improved to such an extent that last month Venezuela handed over to Colombia two alleged rebels (from the country's other guerrilla group, ELN). Santos hailed this as proof that Venezuela was now unlikely to be providing hideouts for FARC in her territory. He went as far as to suggest that the camps highlighted by Uribe in 2010 were now no longer occupied.
Some have accused Santos of going soft - for this website, unfairly.
The US would prefer Colombia to help demonise rather than cosy up to Chavez. Santos is playing a different game.
Ahead of Venezuelan elections next year, the US will not want to give the world a chance to forget Chavez's links with the FARC. These elections provide the best hope for enemies to depose Commander Chavez. If they fail to do so, the fear is Chavez could become a leader-for-life dictator. Expect the pressure on Caracas to mount over the coming months.
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2 comments:
Interesting - I should start a Venezuelan politics blog and you should read my MA dissertation. I wonder how much the US actually care about Chavez though? So long as Venezuela provides a ready source of oil is it best for them to turn a blind eye to Venezuela's plight?
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