Comments on: FARC, the pantomime villians of Oslo? http://www.colombia-politics.com/farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo News & analysis Colombian politics Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:09:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kevin Howlett http://www.colombia-politics.com/farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Kevin Howlett Thu, 18 Oct 2012 22:38:14 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=1019#comment-83 Thanks for your comments Tigre. I agree. The FARC´s fight - was historically - to impose communism (through violence), I simplify but not much. The opening salvo from Márquez today made it sound like the FARC would try to impose these politics on Colombia through the negotiating table. Clearly Colombia would not accept this. The only way open to guerrillas is to enter politics and try to ´fight´for their cause through the ballot box. In the end you´re absolutely right, it is up to the FARC to decide whether to accept the offer from the government or whether they want to continue in the jungle. We hope the latter. Colombia Politics has been a strong advocate of the peace talks. It would be tragic if what Márquez said today defines the FARC´s true attitude. Time well tell. And once the cameras are turned off and they debate behind closed doors things could well be different. Cheers. Thanks for your comments Tigre.

I agree.

The FARC´s fight – was historically – to impose communism (through violence), I simplify but not much.

The opening salvo from Márquez today made it sound like the FARC would try to impose these politics on Colombia through the negotiating table. Clearly Colombia would not accept this.

The only way open to guerrillas is to enter politics and try to ´fight´for their cause through the ballot box.

In the end you´re absolutely right, it is up to the FARC to decide whether to accept the offer from the government or whether they want to continue in the jungle.

We hope the latter. Colombia Politics has been a strong advocate of the peace talks. It would be tragic if what Márquez said today defines the FARC´s true attitude.

Time well tell. And once the cameras are turned off and they debate behind closed doors things could well be different.

Cheers.

]]> By: Tigre http://www.colombia-politics.com/farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Tigre Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:51:26 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=1019#comment-81 Additionally, the last right-wing paramilitary group disbanded in 2006 – six years ago! Perhaps that would have been a good cue for the FARC to offer their own dismemberment. The things that Márquez demanded today are issues to be taken up in the context of the formal political process, a process that the FARC could very well have legal representation in if they allow themselves to be made part of Colombia’s pluralistic democratic system. It is not going to be an easy road for anyone. But one step toward progress is a giant leap forward. Additionally, the last right-wing paramilitary group disbanded in 2006 – six years ago! Perhaps that would have been a good cue for the FARC to offer their own dismemberment.

The things that Márquez demanded today are issues to be taken up in the context of the formal political process, a process that the FARC could very well have legal representation in if they allow themselves to be made part of Colombia’s pluralistic democratic system. It is not going to be an easy road for anyone. But one step toward progress is a giant leap forward.

]]> By: Tigre http://www.colombia-politics.com/farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Tigre Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:50:36 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=1019#comment-80 Additionally, the last right-wing paramilitary group disbanded in 2006 – six years ago! Perhaps that would have been a good cue for the FARC to offer their own dismemberment. The things that Márquez demanded today are issues to be taken up in the context of the formal political process, a process that the FARC could very well have legal representation in if they allow themselves to be made part of Colombia’s pluralistic democratic system. It is not going to be an easy road for anyone. But one step toward progress is a giant leap forward. Additionally, the last right-wing paramilitary group disbanded in 2006 – six years ago! Perhaps that would have been a good cue for the FARC to offer their own dismemberment.
The things that Márquez demanded today are issues to be taken up in the context of the formal political process, a process that the FARC could very well have legal representation in if they allow themselves to be made part of Colombia’s pluralistic democratic system. It is not going to be an easy road for anyone. But one step toward progress is a giant leap forward.

]]> By: Tigre http://www.colombia-politics.com/farc-the-pantomime-villians-of-oslo/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Tigre Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:16:15 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=1019#comment-79 This is the opening salvo. Not surprisingly strong words and rhetoric have been used in an attempt to establish the FARC’s footing in these talks. Whether or not what Iván Márquez contends contains any truth is cancelled out by the environmental, economic, societal, spiritual and moral devastation caused by the FARC. Such a strong lead-in could potentially serve to undermine them as such veracity is obviously grandstanding. Additionally, the “we have done nothing wrong” stance will not hold-up even under the slightest scrutiny. There is no way that the FARC can make the world believe that the scourge of the paramilitaries arose in response to FARC tactics, and not the other way around. Let’s not be discouraged. This is simply the first scene of the first act of a piece of political theatre that will see far more melodramatic histrionics from all sides. We may even see the scenery crash and burn and the house go dark, but the lines have been drawn and everyone knows that this is really the last chance for them to come to an understanding. No one will be entirely happy with the outcome – not the FARC, the government, the victims, the ordinary citizens of Colombia, the throngs of ex-pats calling this wonderful country home, nor domestic and international investors. However, an end must come and that can happen at the negotiating table or in the jungle. The choice is theirs. This is the opening salvo. Not surprisingly strong words and rhetoric have been used in an attempt to establish the FARC’s footing in these talks. Whether or not what Iván Márquez contends contains any truth is cancelled out by the environmental, economic, societal, spiritual and moral devastation caused by the FARC. Such a strong lead-in could potentially serve to undermine them as such veracity is obviously grandstanding. Additionally, the “we have done nothing wrong” stance will not hold-up even under the slightest scrutiny. There is no way that the FARC can make the world believe that the scourge of the paramilitaries arose in response to FARC tactics, and not the other way around. Let’s not be discouraged. This is simply the first scene of the first act of a piece of political theatre that will see far more melodramatic histrionics from all sides. We may even see the scenery crash and burn and the house go dark, but the lines have been drawn and everyone knows that this is really the last chance for them to come to an understanding. No one will be entirely happy with the outcome – not the FARC, the government, the victims, the ordinary citizens of Colombia, the throngs of ex-pats calling this wonderful country home, nor domestic and international investors. However, an end must come and that can happen at the negotiating table or in the jungle. The choice is theirs.

]]>