Transcript Colombia

Land of
“la violencia”
Traditional Political Parties, 19th and
early-20th centuries
Conservative Party
Principles?
Supporters?
Liberal Party
Principles?
Supporters?
Initiation of “la violencia”
Liberal Party hegemony, 1853-1884
 1853 Liberal Constitution
 Factionalization of Liberals (golgatas and
draconianos)
 1863 adoption of new Constitution – established
Confederacy and opened door for department-level
bloodshed and political conflict
Conservative dominance, political
reform, more violence
Conservative political dominance and reforms, 18841899
 1884 Constitution
 1899 War of a Thousand Days (Panama breaks
away)
“la violencia,” 1948-1958
• Underlying causes
• “El Bogotazo,” February
1948
• Character of political
conflict and violence
•
Period of National Front
Power-sharing agreement
• 1958-1974, formal agreement
--President alternated between Conservatives and Liberals
--Cabinet parity
--legislature equally divided
• 1974-early-1990s, informal agreement
Consequences of National Front
Political Conflict, 1960s-present
Major Actors:
• Guerrilla organizations
FARC, ELN, EPL, M-19
• Colombian military
• Paramilitary organizations
• Drug lords/narcotraficantes
• U.S. government
M-19
Movimiento Abril 19
(April 19 Movement)
• Now the M-19/AD Party
Carlos Pizarro, former head
of M-19 guerrilla org. (on
left)
FARC
Fuerzas Armadas
Revolucionarias de
Colombia
Colombian Revolutionary
Armed Forces
• Largest guerrilla organization
in Colombia
• Controls large areas of
Colombia
• Financing: kidnapping,
“taxes” on coca growers and
the wealthy
ELN
Ejército de Liberación
Nacional
Army of National Liberation
• Smaller group
• Target energy pipelines and
infrastructure
EPL
Ejército Popular de Liberación
Popular Liberation Army
• Smaller than FARC or ELN
• Negotiated peace with government in
1991
Colombian Military
• Historical U.S.-Colombian Military
Relationship
• War on Drugs
• Current Relationship with U.S.
Paramilitary Groups
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Historical Background
Association with drug trafficking
MAS
AUC
Involvement in political killings
Relationship with Colombian military
Narcotraficantes
U.S. Government
Plan Colombia
• designed by Colombian President Pastrana to curb
drug trafficking and civil disorder
• supported by U.S. government financially, militarily
and morally
Goals of Plan Colombia
Colombia’s goal:
U.S. goal:
• Gain control over
• Reduce trafficking in
country by eliminating
illegal drugs
guerillas
Methods of Plan Colombia
2000-2001
$1.2 b.
U.S. counter-narcotics aid to Colombia, 80%
for military equipment and training
2002
$731 m.
Andean Counter-drug Initiative, 65% for
military equipment and training