Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BOGOTA11453
2006-12-22 12:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
POLO PARTY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARMED STRUGGLE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 011453
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARMED STRUGGLE
REF: BOGOTA 11404
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
Summary
=======
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 011453
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARMED STRUGGLE
REF: BOGOTA 11404
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
Summary
=======
1. (U) Colombia's left-wing Polo Party has established
itself as a leftist political alternative (reftel),but is
hobbled by links to now defunct guerrilla movements and weak
positions on security. Polo leadership has attempted to
distance itself from the armed left, and seems to have
genuinely embraced a non-violence platform. But the party
lacks a strong message on security, a critical issue for the
generally right-of-center Colombian electorate. The ELN
peace process will be a test of the Polo's position on
violence and justice for armed groups. End Summary.
Polo Struggles with Leftist Identity
====================================
2. (C) Polo President Carlos Gaviria, Secretary-General
Antonio Navarro Wolff and Bogota Mayor Luis "Lucho" Garzon
recognize the continued existence of the armed left in
Colombia is a major electoral hurdle. Gallup pollster Jorge
Londono estimates that 75% of the Colombian electorate is
center or center-right, mostly in rejection to the ELN and
FARC. Many voters question the Polo's capacity to handle
security issues, and believe some members are sympathetic to
leftist armed groups. This perception is exacerbated by the
presence of former M-19 guerrillas and Communist Party
members within its ranks. Even within the Polo, security is
an issue. Wolff, a party founder and former member of the
M-19, blames his defeat in the Polo's 2006 presidential
primary in large part on his guerrilla past.
Polo Rejects Violence and Armed Struggle
========================================
3. (U) At the party's December Congress, Polo delegates
unanimously approved a resolution denouncing "armed struggle"
as a legitimate reform strategy and calling on the FARC and
ELN to disarm. Shortly before the Congress, Carlos Gaviria
condemned the FARC's terrorist actions. The Polo also
rebuffed the public overture of Yesid Arteta, a former FARC
mid-level leader recently released after ten years in prison,
to attend the Polo Congress to "ensure the party remained
true to its leftist agenda." Despite Arteta's assertion that
his armed struggle was over, Polo leaders made clear he was
not welcome because of his FARC ties. Earlier in November,
the party sent an open letter to the FARC demanding that the
FARC stop threatening community leaders in the Catatumbo
region.
4. (C) But the Polo's efforts to distance itself from the
armed left are undercut by its weak message on security.
Polo policy documents criticize the government's emphasis on
armed action against leftist armed groups and feature vague
plans to disarm the FARC and ELN through negotiations. Other
parties repeatedly criticized Carlos Gaviria's insistence
during the presidential campaign that Colombia's conflicts
could only be resolved through talk, not military force. On
narcotics issues the Polo discounts extradition and aerial
eradication, but provides few suggestions beyond alternative
development. Both Gaviria and Wolff recently made public
statements denouncing the GOC decision to spray coca crops
near the Ecuador border. (Some of this is politics and in
private some Polo leaders recognize the need for a tougher
line on drugs.)
ELN Peace Process May be Test
=============================
5. (C) The ELN peace process is further testing the Polo's
security posture. The party has called for harsh punishment
for former paramilitaries, but more lenient treatment for ELN
fighters. While Gaviria and Navarro Wolff agree that a
complete amnesty for the ELN would be wrong, Daniel Garcia
Pena (a guarantor in the ELN peace process and candidate to
succeed Navarro Wolff as Polo Secretary General) favors much
better benefits for the ELN than the paramilitaries. Gaviria
and Navarro Wolff worry that an ELN push for a complete
amnesty could split the party. Moreover, all are concerned
that in the event the ELN demobilizes, its lack of a viable
political base may lead it to try to join forces with the
Polo. Polo leaders would likely stress that such a
development was made possible by the ELN's disarmament, but
Gaviria and Garzon understand it could alienate voters by
tying the party to the guerrillas.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARMED STRUGGLE
REF: BOGOTA 11404
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
Summary
=======
1. (U) Colombia's left-wing Polo Party has established
itself as a leftist political alternative (reftel),but is
hobbled by links to now defunct guerrilla movements and weak
positions on security. Polo leadership has attempted to
distance itself from the armed left, and seems to have
genuinely embraced a non-violence platform. But the party
lacks a strong message on security, a critical issue for the
generally right-of-center Colombian electorate. The ELN
peace process will be a test of the Polo's position on
violence and justice for armed groups. End Summary.
Polo Struggles with Leftist Identity
====================================
2. (C) Polo President Carlos Gaviria, Secretary-General
Antonio Navarro Wolff and Bogota Mayor Luis "Lucho" Garzon
recognize the continued existence of the armed left in
Colombia is a major electoral hurdle. Gallup pollster Jorge
Londono estimates that 75% of the Colombian electorate is
center or center-right, mostly in rejection to the ELN and
FARC. Many voters question the Polo's capacity to handle
security issues, and believe some members are sympathetic to
leftist armed groups. This perception is exacerbated by the
presence of former M-19 guerrillas and Communist Party
members within its ranks. Even within the Polo, security is
an issue. Wolff, a party founder and former member of the
M-19, blames his defeat in the Polo's 2006 presidential
primary in large part on his guerrilla past.
Polo Rejects Violence and Armed Struggle
========================================
3. (U) At the party's December Congress, Polo delegates
unanimously approved a resolution denouncing "armed struggle"
as a legitimate reform strategy and calling on the FARC and
ELN to disarm. Shortly before the Congress, Carlos Gaviria
condemned the FARC's terrorist actions. The Polo also
rebuffed the public overture of Yesid Arteta, a former FARC
mid-level leader recently released after ten years in prison,
to attend the Polo Congress to "ensure the party remained
true to its leftist agenda." Despite Arteta's assertion that
his armed struggle was over, Polo leaders made clear he was
not welcome because of his FARC ties. Earlier in November,
the party sent an open letter to the FARC demanding that the
FARC stop threatening community leaders in the Catatumbo
region.
4. (C) But the Polo's efforts to distance itself from the
armed left are undercut by its weak message on security.
Polo policy documents criticize the government's emphasis on
armed action against leftist armed groups and feature vague
plans to disarm the FARC and ELN through negotiations. Other
parties repeatedly criticized Carlos Gaviria's insistence
during the presidential campaign that Colombia's conflicts
could only be resolved through talk, not military force. On
narcotics issues the Polo discounts extradition and aerial
eradication, but provides few suggestions beyond alternative
development. Both Gaviria and Wolff recently made public
statements denouncing the GOC decision to spray coca crops
near the Ecuador border. (Some of this is politics and in
private some Polo leaders recognize the need for a tougher
line on drugs.)
ELN Peace Process May be Test
=============================
5. (C) The ELN peace process is further testing the Polo's
security posture. The party has called for harsh punishment
for former paramilitaries, but more lenient treatment for ELN
fighters. While Gaviria and Navarro Wolff agree that a
complete amnesty for the ELN would be wrong, Daniel Garcia
Pena (a guarantor in the ELN peace process and candidate to
succeed Navarro Wolff as Polo Secretary General) favors much
better benefits for the ELN than the paramilitaries. Gaviria
and Navarro Wolff worry that an ELN push for a complete
amnesty could split the party. Moreover, all are concerned
that in the event the ELN demobilizes, its lack of a viable
political base may lead it to try to join forces with the
Polo. Polo leaders would likely stress that such a
development was made possible by the ELN's disarmament, but
Gaviria and Garzon understand it could alienate voters by
tying the party to the guerrillas.
WOOD