The Colombia government, led by the Santos administration is once again going after politicians who differ on their approach to dealing with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). An once again the target is Senator Piedad Cordoba from the Colombian Liberal Party.
The evidence against her is in Raul Reyes' famous laptop that some how survived an intense shoot out in the jungles of Ecuador. The same laptop that links Hugo Chavez to the FARC. This is political maneuvering by the Attorney General. Of course, Cordoba has contacts with the FARC, so does hundred of journalists who visit their camps on a weekly basis. Moreover, her connection with the FARC has led to the release of 12 hostages in the last few years.
The mainstream press quickly celebrated the decision of the attorney general reached just after midnight today, to banish her from the senate, and viewed it as yet another blow to the guerrillas. It's disgusting to see the celebration of someone being criminalized for having a social justice approach to bringing peace to Colombia. We need to go beyond CARACOL & RCN News. In Colombia, if you don't agree with the government, you are labeled as "the FARC", and subsequently you are demonized. It's time we rose above that and understood the root's of Colombia's problem, which the government loves to simply lay blame to the guerrillas.
Simply put, the Santos administration does not appreciate Cordoba's strategy of dialogue with the FARC because it undermines their strategy of all out war and the business behind that. The rich of Colombia depend on war with the FARC/ELN (National Liberation Army of Colombia), it's how they receive staunch financial and military support from the U.S. The FARC and the "war on terror" is a key component in the argument and justification for the countless acts of aggression towards student activists, labor leaders, the indigenous population and now to politicians who differ on the approach to peace in Colombia. We should stand in solidarity with her!
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