Actualidad Colombiana IN ENGLISH

Bulletin No. 397 Index

November 24-December 9, 2004
Year XXV

Politics
“I Do Not See a Contraparte that Accepts the Truth Commission"

Politics
Current Re-Election Reform: An Irregular Modification to the Rules of the Game

Social Movements
There Is a Farm in the Heart of Bogotá

Peace and Conflict
Humanitarian Hermeneutics for Crimes against Humanity

Full Bulletin in Spanish (.html) and in English (.doc).

“I Do Not See a Contraparte that Accepts the Truth Commission"

Interview with senator and ex-militant of M-19, Antonio Navarro Wolf, on the question of President Uribe pardoning the demobilized M-19 and the alleged connection between M-19 and drug trafficking in the Palace of Justice seizure

"We cannot say that the crimes of the guerrilla are good and those of the paramilitaries are bad, which has been the tendency of our country. In the past, guerrilla atrocities were pardoned. M-19 burned the Palace of Justice in collaboration with drug trafficking, and were pardoned. Colombia cannot repeat these errors, either in favor of the paramilitaries or the guerrillas. An atrocious crime is an atrocious crime, be it committed by the paramilitary or the guerrilla. Now, if there is a peace process, we must look at the legal benefits as equal for all: whicht is what we are doing in these most difficult processes." Following this declaration made by President Alvaro Uribe Vélez during an October 1st meeting with Colombian citizens living in Miami, a large controversy was ignited, which is still going.

The independent bancada debated in the House of Representatives on October 27th. Participating were 80 demobilized members of M-19, current government representatives, some former civil employees of the Belisario Betancur government, which was in power when the event happened, and a member of the Special Court who had investigated the events at the palace. Representative Gustavo Petro reconstructed in detail the taking of the Palace of Justice on November 6-7, 1985, and later the key people of the event took part. Finally, the demobilized members of M-19 raised the issue of creating a truth commission. Nevertheless, the proposal is in limbo since Uribe's government has not responded and the media have not mentioned the subject.

Current Re-Election Reform: An Irregular Modification to the Rules of the Game

ALEJO VARGAS VELÁSQUEZ
“Official” Professor, National University

It is true that the debate surrounding re-election has been repeated in Colombian political history, but it is also true that Colombians have never really wanted to re-elect their presidents before.

In the 1910 constitutional reform, without a doubt a democratic reform for its time, that looked to file down the most authoritarian edges of the inherited political regime of the Regeneration, eliminated the immediate re-election of the President of the Republic and the presidential term of four years was established. Additionally, capital punishment was eliminated and a greater balance between public powers was attempted. During the period from 1910 to 1991, the only presidential re-election was that of Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo, during what was called the 'liberal republic'. The post-National Front Carlos Lleras Restrepo and Alfonso López Michelsen tried, but failed. And General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was re-elected, but by irregular means, during the Golpe Militar period, through a Constituent Assembly of 'bolsillo'. The mechanism for not re-electing a president has been rooted in Colombia during the 20th century and occurred frequently; we need only remember General Tomás Cipriano of Mosquera.

There Is a Farm in the Heart of Bogotá

The farmers' markets in Bogotá

LILIANA GUARÍN
Planeta Paz

Although it has been around for 4000 years, I was only about ten years old when I discovered it. Although certain care is needed, mainly to treat the bitter parts, it has many wonderful powers. It is like admiring one for being so small, yes, but in truth she is the queen of nutrition and health.”

With a careful movement, which the coarseness of hands accustomed to field work denies, Hernando Javier Camacho, a middle-aged boyacense farmer, revealed between the palms his hands the subject of his explanation: a handful of small, round, yellow seeds of quinoa.

Humanitarian Hermeneutics for Crimes against Humanity

CAMILO GONZÁLEZ POSSO
Indepaz

On November 18, the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights returned to the subject of kidnappings and the possibilities of humanitarian exchanges and, with the exception of a handout, there have been few comments on the matter. One of the newspapers emphasized that an assumption endorsing military actions for the rescue of hostages or abductees in no part mentioned that, in reality, a fundamental concept about the framework establishes the international norms constraining Colombia..

In that document, among others, it is maintained that under no circumstances can conditional freedom be granted to those who were condemned of military crimes or crimes against humanity. Point 10 of the "Directions" does not give rise to several readings, nor can it now with the imprisoned guerrillas or with the new law already announced, give a legal framework to the demobilization process and alternative punishments to the heads of AUC implicated in serious violations of humanitarian norms.