Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA6745
2007-09-17 15:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
POLO PARTY'S INTERNAL RIVALRIES FLARE OVER THE FARC
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006745
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY'S INTERNAL RIVALRIES FLARE OVER THE FARC
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006745
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY'S INTERNAL RIVALRIES FLARE OVER THE FARC
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Summary: Polo Democratico Senator Dussan's
September 11 statement that "we are neither with the FARC,
nor against the FARC" overshadowed the party's rejection of
the FARC's armed struggle and generated an angry exchange
with fellow Polo Senator Petro. Petro attributed Dussan's
comment to the 'lingering nostalgia" of some Polo members for
the armed left, and said the party must denounce FARC crimes
with the same intensity as paramilitary violence if it is to
become a viable alternative for power at the national level.
Party leader Carlos Gaviria minimized the controversy,
attributing it to personal rivalries as much as to
substantive differences over the approach to the FARC. End
Summary
2. (U) On September 11, differences within the opposition
Polo Democratico Party over its approach to the
FARC--exacerbated by personal rivalries-- spilled into the
public. Polo Senator Jaime Dussan's statement that "we are
neither with the FARC, nor against the FARC" overshadowed
party leaders' rejection of the FARC's armed struggle and
triggered an angry exchange with fellow Polo Senator Gustavo
Petro. Petro has repeatedly denounced FARC
terorrism--leading the group to threaten his life--and called
for the Polo to sponsor a congressional debate on the
"FARCapolitica." The party's Executive Committee voted 23-6
against supporting Petro's harder-line statements against the
FARC, reflecting both substantive differences and personal
squabbles within Polo.
3. (U) Dussan later clarified his comments, condemning the
FARC but explaining, "the Polo should not cut off the
possibility of a negotiated political solution" with the
group. Petro told us Dussan's comments reflect "lingering
nostalgia" among some within the Polo for the 1970s, when
everyone on the left in Colombia supported the armed
struggle. Other Polo activists fear criticizing the FARC
will elp President Uribe. As a result, they resist
denouncing the FARC with the same intensity as the
paramilitaries.
4. (C) Petro told us the Polo's position "distancing itself
from the armed left" is not enough. Uribe and his political
supporters routinely exploit alleged Polo sympathy with
leftist guerrilla groups for political gain. If the Polo
wants to broaden its electoral base and become a viable
alternative to power at the national level, it needs to more
actively condemn FARC and ELN violence, including ties
between politicians and the terrorist groups. A El Tiempo
editorial on September 12 said the Polo faces a moment of
trust and must define its position and come out against the
FARC if it wants to govern.
5. (C) Petro said a potential peace process with the ELN
would pose a dilemma for the Polo. If the party advocates
lenient treatment for ELN leaders guilty of human rights
violations after demanding harsher punishment for
paramilitaries, it will reinforce the perception that it is
"soft" on left-wing terrorism. Moreover, many demobilized
ELN members would likely seek to join the Polo. The Polo
should insist that any ELN leaders who join the party should
first accept a grand truth accord ("Acuerdo de Verdad") which
includes truth, some reparations, and some punishment. Even
then, Petro said, the Polo will play a political price for
accepting ELN members into its ranks.
6. (C) Gavira told us Polo leadership had "repeated a
thousand times that we completely reject armed struggle," and
claimed the controversy reflected internal Polo rivalries as
much as substantive differences on the FARC's violence.
Gaviria said Petro, a member of Polo's 31-member Executive
Committee, never attends Committee meetings which set party
policy--all of which are based upon consensus and are
"carefully and painfully negotiated word for word." Gaviria
alleged Petro, a former-M-19 member, is being tough with the
FARC to mask his rebel past and score points heading towards
2010 presidential elections.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO
SUBJECT: POLO PARTY'S INTERNAL RIVALRIES FLARE OVER THE FARC
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Summary: Polo Democratico Senator Dussan's
September 11 statement that "we are neither with the FARC,
nor against the FARC" overshadowed the party's rejection of
the FARC's armed struggle and generated an angry exchange
with fellow Polo Senator Petro. Petro attributed Dussan's
comment to the 'lingering nostalgia" of some Polo members for
the armed left, and said the party must denounce FARC crimes
with the same intensity as paramilitary violence if it is to
become a viable alternative for power at the national level.
Party leader Carlos Gaviria minimized the controversy,
attributing it to personal rivalries as much as to
substantive differences over the approach to the FARC. End
Summary
2. (U) On September 11, differences within the opposition
Polo Democratico Party over its approach to the
FARC--exacerbated by personal rivalries-- spilled into the
public. Polo Senator Jaime Dussan's statement that "we are
neither with the FARC, nor against the FARC" overshadowed
party leaders' rejection of the FARC's armed struggle and
triggered an angry exchange with fellow Polo Senator Gustavo
Petro. Petro has repeatedly denounced FARC
terorrism--leading the group to threaten his life--and called
for the Polo to sponsor a congressional debate on the
"FARCapolitica." The party's Executive Committee voted 23-6
against supporting Petro's harder-line statements against the
FARC, reflecting both substantive differences and personal
squabbles within Polo.
3. (U) Dussan later clarified his comments, condemning the
FARC but explaining, "the Polo should not cut off the
possibility of a negotiated political solution" with the
group. Petro told us Dussan's comments reflect "lingering
nostalgia" among some within the Polo for the 1970s, when
everyone on the left in Colombia supported the armed
struggle. Other Polo activists fear criticizing the FARC
will elp President Uribe. As a result, they resist
denouncing the FARC with the same intensity as the
paramilitaries.
4. (C) Petro told us the Polo's position "distancing itself
from the armed left" is not enough. Uribe and his political
supporters routinely exploit alleged Polo sympathy with
leftist guerrilla groups for political gain. If the Polo
wants to broaden its electoral base and become a viable
alternative to power at the national level, it needs to more
actively condemn FARC and ELN violence, including ties
between politicians and the terrorist groups. A El Tiempo
editorial on September 12 said the Polo faces a moment of
trust and must define its position and come out against the
FARC if it wants to govern.
5. (C) Petro said a potential peace process with the ELN
would pose a dilemma for the Polo. If the party advocates
lenient treatment for ELN leaders guilty of human rights
violations after demanding harsher punishment for
paramilitaries, it will reinforce the perception that it is
"soft" on left-wing terrorism. Moreover, many demobilized
ELN members would likely seek to join the Polo. The Polo
should insist that any ELN leaders who join the party should
first accept a grand truth accord ("Acuerdo de Verdad") which
includes truth, some reparations, and some punishment. Even
then, Petro said, the Polo will play a political price for
accepting ELN members into its ranks.
6. (C) Gavira told us Polo leadership had "repeated a
thousand times that we completely reject armed struggle," and
claimed the controversy reflected internal Polo rivalries as
much as substantive differences on the FARC's violence.
Gaviria said Petro, a member of Polo's 31-member Executive
Committee, never attends Committee meetings which set party
policy--all of which are based upon consensus and are
"carefully and painfully negotiated word for word." Gaviria
alleged Petro, a former-M-19 member, is being tough with the
FARC to mask his rebel past and score points heading towards
2010 presidential elections.
Brownfield