To Whom It May Concern,
Colombia has many economic, social, political and other challenges. But one of the most important challenges is the mitigation of armed conflicts. Indeed, armed conflicts have been going on for decades. According to available sources, civil conflicts have left as many as 220000 dead, 25,000 disappeared and 5.7 million displaced over the last half century. No doubt, negotiations have been carried out for years for the mitigation of armed conflicts. Notably, a peace process between the earlier government and leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia halted the five-decade-long civil war, the world’s longest running civil war, in 2016 and helped to reduce kidnappings, homicides and forced displacement. Though the extent of armed conflicts has significantly reduced recently, the country was far from being pacified by it.
No doubt, armed violence is continuing in Colombia. According to available sources, massacres and murder increased in the last couple of years. In July this year, criminal groups staged almost 90 attacks on the police and military, killing 13 police officers. Notably, there are several armed groups such as the left-wing guerrilla Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), FARC’s dissident groups and former paramilitary right-wing groups, which have turned into drug cartels. Mostly, FARC dissidents and other noted groups fight over cocaine smuggling routes, illegal mines and other resources that were abandoned by the FARC. Consequently, there was an increase in the number of internally displaced people in Colombia in recent years. Of course, negotiations between the government and the ELN which were halted in 2019 due to the group’s setting off a car bomb at a police academy leading to the death of 20 are going on.
The positive side is that the newly elected President Gustavo Petro, who is also a former member of the M-19 guerrilla group, promised to establish peace in Colombia. But effective efforts need to be ensured for the mitigation of conflicts and ending drug trafficking. In this respect, negotiations between the government and the ELN rebels need to be continued to minimize the risk of armed violence. But there are some challenges including arrest warrants for ELN negotiators who are currently living in exile in Cuba. Also, institutional steps towards peace-building need to be continued with Comunes, the political successor of the FARC, the country’s largest insurgent group. But all the parties including, but not limited to, the government and ELN rebels are desired to be cordial.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
