The “ghost” of peace recedes again in Colombia
Between deadly combats sustained by the Army and certain structures of the so-called Central General Staff—formed by guerrillas of the extinct FARC-EP who did not accept the peace agreement—, and the decision of the National Liberation Army to resume kidnappings “for economic purposes”, Gustavo Petro's pacification project is once again becoming intangible, it is fading away. Given the diversity and complexity of the actors involved in the historic armed conflict, it has always been shaky.
In the case of the Central General Staff, the basic problem since last year—or since its formation—is that it is not a homogeneous structure with vertical leadership, but that internal dissidents could even confront each other. One part is sitting at the negotiating table, trying not to be an obstacle to Petro's strategy. Other blocs have proved to be quite uncomfortable. Against the latter the Armed Forces are lashing out with a lot of firepower, blessed by the Casa de Nariño.
Last week police and army troops neutralized three members of the FARC-EP dissidents, seizing weapons and other war material (source).Meanwhile, the National Liberation Army (ELN in Spanish) announced this Monday that it is returning to kidnapping people under the argument that Petro's government has shown “little will” at the dialogue table. Specifically, the “last true insurgency” in Colombia alleged that a fund promised by Bogota—last February—to finance the peace process had not yet materialized, to which the government delegation responded that the fund wasn't tied to the suspension of kidnappings.
“[The government] has always made it clear to the ELN that the trade with human beings has no justification whatsoever and its elimination is not the object of any transaction on the part of the Colombian state.” The kidnapping last October of the father of a Colombian soccer player—based in England—put the spotlight on this extortive activity to which the ELN says it is “forced” by circumstances. The guerrillas also have internal hierarchical breakdowns. It is unknown how the dialogue will continue once the ELN executes its next kidnapping. Members of the civil society call to suspend the negotiations.
SourceArgentina's “libertarian” government censors a left-leaning multistate TV station
In a new irritant courtesy of Milei, the Casa Rosada has removed the Telesur channel from the Open Digital Television grid. It is a media designed to produce a “counter-hegemonic discourse”, showing the "realities" of an exploited or poorly narrated southern hemisphere. Emerged in the heat of a thriving Bolivarian Revolution, with a good income, a Cuba still with Fidel Castro in power, and Néstor Kirchner himself sitting in the Rivadavia's armchair, Telesur has been faithful to its mission.
It is not a neutral media, but places the spotlight on those facts that contribute to the political agenda in Caracas, or interprets them looking for that resulting political directionality. “Neutral” media don't exist anyway. The Argentine State owns around 14% of the shares of Telesur. Mauricio Macri had already removed the media from the grid during his administration, a measure later lifted by Alberto Fernández. Milei's government clumsily justifies this last censorship with its rhetoric on the adjustment and “responsible spending” of Argentines' money. The decision is purely political.
Estamos junto al pueblo argentino. #TeleSURNoSeVa.
— Patricia Villegas Marin (@pvillegas_tlSUR) May 6, 2024
Nuestra respuesta a la motosierra del Pdte. #Milei. pic.twitter.com/RDZQIR8OTQ
“To the human cost of the chainsaw (...) now is added a deafening blow against freedom of expression and plurality of voices, which paves a worrying step backward on the road to a society that builds its criteria and sovereign thought”, reads a statement signed by the presidency of Telesur. “Those who wield speeches of freedom, with their actions, which is what counts, cut that freedom to a project that builds sovereignty”, they state in a clear dart to the alleged liberal/libertarian character of the government of La Libertad Avanza. “[Milei's] adherence to the principles of freedom is farcical, he does not admit freedom of the press”, criticized the renowned Argentine intellectual Atilio Borón.
DYOR
How a beach trip in Mexico's Baja California turned deadly for surfers from Australia and the US https://t.co/gHH7YeUBLP
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 6, 2024
And this is all for our report today. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work here. Have a nice day.
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