Piedad Córdoba, the opposition Senator from the Liberal party, recently was considered the most likely to be awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Such a fortune would be highly controversial. Nevertheless, the prize could be the prelude to a new chapter in Colombia's internal conflict.
Norway’s International Peace Research Institute Director Kristian Berg Harpviken believes Córdoba is the most likely to win the 2009 Peace Prize. This is not an endorsement, but a speculation of a prominent Norwegian peace advocate that was considered relevant enough by U.S. television network Bloomberg to mention.
Harpviken is well placed for indulging in such speculations. Córdoba was postulated by 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel. The Argentinean has been an active advocate for human rights in Colombia.
Piedad Esneda Córdoba Ruiz' public nomination back in January was extremely controversial in Colombia. This is a reflection of how polarizing her actions in the territory have been. Most of them stem from her friendly positions and actions towards the FARC and Hugo Chavez. For instance, the tasteless pictures where she wore a FARC beret while in Caracas with some FARC commanders in 2007 overshadowed her efforts for a humanitarian exchange. Recently she has toned down those hindering actions, albeit with limited success.
Her negative image among Colombians has been compounded by her staunch and vociferous opposition to President Alvaro Uribe’s war policies. This negative opinion has been a result of the successful polarization that the government has been able to impose in the country. The government strongly denounced what they perceived to be the FARC’s intellectual block. Given the realities at the time everyone believed the block was formed by Córdoba and those close to her. Since then any public figure opposed to Uribe and his policies is automatically branded a traitor and/or a FARC-ideologist.
It is true that her dissident position has allowed her to gain the trust of the FARC and thus realize the dreams of freedom of 16 political hostages. Nevertheless, many Colombians also forget that the group that she heads, Colombianos por la Paz (Colombians for peace), is trying to change the dynamics of the senseless war that the FARC and the government are waging not only against each other by also against Colombia. The group neither believes in kidnapping as a political tool, nor all-out violence as sustainable means to accomplish the peace that Colombians have never experienced.
Córdoba’s public image in the country remains vastly negative, while her efforts abroad are praised. The reason may the international community's disinterest in her relationships with the government's conveniently enlarged local and international enemies. Being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize could offer another perspective to the many Colombians that believe she is a traitor and a FARC ideologist. It is difficult to find a person that has done as much for the release of the political hostages being tortured by the FARC.
Nevertheless, the award would not only benefit Córdoba, but would also catapult Colombia’s internal conflict in all its manifestations to the international community’s agenda. The barriers that have appeared from the government and the FARC for the release of the remaining political hostages could be surpassed. Moreover, workable solutions to the internal conflict that are not limited to only military actions could be considered.
If on October 9 Piedad Córdoba or Colombianos por la paz is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Colombia’s 45 year-old war with the FARC could reach a turning point. The award could be what is needed for Colombians to integrate in one voice to reject the manufactured animosities and embrace humane solutions to the country's violent realities.
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Comments (28)
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Adriaan
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... Seriously, not that I particularly like Piedad Cordoba -- she's a politician after all -- but what is with all this hatred towards her? Can someone please convince me with arguments instead of name-calling why this woman is so much worse than the politicians who made pacts with paramilitaries, were found guilty of bribery or have stolen tax payer's money? |
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gringo76
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... It goes to show you how divide Colombia really is, and that is why there is a internal civil conflict with no end in sight. All this hatred will not resolve the issue at hand. |
Javi
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... WOW I am socked, now it seems like we hand out rewards for people who support injustice rather those who stand against it by showing people a better way. The means never justifies the ends. Consider King or Gandhi and how they accomplished thier goals and won support for their causes verse the FARC Piedad and Chavez Piedad is linked with the FARC a terrorist organization and supports Hugo Chavez. 1)Politics aside, supporting a terrorist organization is approving of their methods. The FARC is known for torture, separating fathers and mothers and children from each other, killing civilians, drug trafficking, planting mines by schools, forcing children to be solders and on and on and on 2)Hugo Chavez also support the FARC and (again politics aside) has repeatedly used deception and intimidation and force to push his addenda There is saying that goes “tell me who you are with and I will tell you who you are” Chavez, Piedad and the FARC all believe in to same methods to achieve there aims. Justice is NOT built on injustice but on respect for ones self and others. If one sure about ones views present them with well reasoned arguments instead of resorting to mindless violence and rage as if no better then an irrational animal, like the FARC and Chavez and supporting them like Peidad? |
Adriaan
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... FUN FACT: A group of Italians want Silvio Berlusconi to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2010 as there has not been an Italian winner since 1907 http://silvioperilnobel.sitonline.it/8/ |
Andrea
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... I do not agree with your conclusion that awarding the Nobel Prize to Piedad would mark a turning point in Colombia's civil war. It will be slap in the face to the many Colombians who have been victims of the country's violence. How can you legitimize her support and close links to Chavez (who ]ordered a minute of silence after the death of FARC Commander Devia http://www.washingtonpost.com/...00773.html)? Although I am not a supporter of Uribe's policies and his alleged ties with the paramilitaries, Córdoba is not a peacemaker. She is an opportunist. |
gringomedellin
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... Sorry but she is the last person who deserves this award, she has caused more harm to Colombians then good with her continueed support of the FARC and Chavez, she has pledged to Chavez to carry his message to the people of Colombia makes her a traitor to Colombia. all she deservers is a public hanging in the main square of Bogota, that will do more to turn the FARC then any award. |
gringo76
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... That is really civilized hanging people in public. Why do Colombians think that fighting murder with murder is justice? Colombia should have a death row! Maybe they should look the example of South Africa, and what is currently going on in Tibet. The Dali Lama is right when he says you should have compassion for your enemies. |
Carlos
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... Hey Aarian, since you are in need of arguments, let me just shoot you a very simple question: Would you give a Nobel Peace Prize to someone who sympathizes with a terrorist organization which kills and kidnaps hundreds of Colombian every year? Does that make sense to you? |
Adriaan
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... No, I would not. Piedad Cordoba is accused by the government, in whose interest it is not to have peace talks right now, because of their relative military success. To discredit Cordoba (who I think is a twat) is strategically smart. An accusation by a party against whose interest you serve is not a conviction. Are you gonna call me a FARC sympathizer now too? because that would be pretty hilarious. |
Veronica Villa
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... I'm Colombian; I'm not racist, I support brave women, and I wish nothing more than live in a Country filled with peace; but this woman, uses her race as a weapon to make international community believe she's some kind of a martyr, uses the pain of kidnapped people and their families to open her path towards power and wealth. The only reason she gets access to any kind of negotiation with FARC (Who by the way are terrorists, drug dealers, torturers and human right offenders), is because she has some kind of twisted relationship with them... Not only doesn't she deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, but it would be a joke to international community and a deep offense to our country if she gets it. It hurts to see how naive and gullible this World is, to get convinced with some well done propaganda and lobby, to get convinced by a woman who's interest is not peace or our country wellbeing, but the power and money she could get with doing this. |
Manuel
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... Colombia is a very racist and sexist country, this is not evident due to the fact that those prejudices are very subtle, but they are there, believe me. Piedad Córdoba is a black woman supporting a very unpopular position: to negotiate with the FARC, so she's been treated very unfairly by the public opinion, almost totally demonized, but her actions are invaluable on a highly polarized country as ours. |
Carolina Londono
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... I also disagree that she should get the Nobel peace price... it would make us all lose our hope on the Nobel institution for giving such an award to a lady that clearly has just taken advantage of the situation to push her political career... Does anyone have proofs and good arguments to send to the director of this award? Here is his mail: http://www.prio.no/People/Person/?oid=65488 |
Adriaan
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... Serious, Think about it. Are you going to lose hope in an internationally acclaimed institution that promotes peace and has awarded guys like Nelson Mandela? If you are going to lose hope in the Nobel guys, I don't think anyone outside of this forum and definitely outside Colombia cares. Hopefully some of you are going to realize is that the accusations against Cordoba may be false and you have been believing lies. There is a world of information out there and only the Colombian government is accusing her of having ties to the FARC. Not one of you have seen any evidence of her doing anything illegal, but promote peace while a large part of the Colombians who can afford internet want the war to continue a while, because it will weaken the FARC we all hate. By the way, the guy whose email you published does not award the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the one who speculated (did not even recommend her) about her making a chance. This is a Nobel Peace Prize, not a Nobel Who Wins War Prize |
Rod
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... It is really sad to see how much importance we put into these types of awards and prizes, when our country and many others around the word suffer every single day from violence, hunger, and diseases. I respect the heritage and history behind the Nobel Prize, but to regard a person like Piedad Betancur to be awarded the prize for PEACE??!!.... all her actions and words have been harmful to Colombia and its people in one way or another. Her alliance to that "monster" neighbor of ours in very discomforting, considering that he is our #1 ENEMY!!! How can she want what is best for our country when she associates herself with people like Chavez??? Also, the Farc... I just watched a video where she thanks the Farc for giving her flowers and not a rifle... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! How are you going to thank those MONKEYS for anything??!!! They are the only thing that is wrong with our country! They have single handedly ruined our safety, our way of life and our image to the words. I hope one day this world sees what this woman is really about and I really hope that, one day her, Chavez and the Farc burn in HELL!! VIVA COLOMBIA!!!! |
icm
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... Mrs Cordoba is a goverment employee to put very basic, who goes and does her propaganda while still gets pay to leave an empty chair in the Senate. Is very easy for those of you who sees our comflict from the outside. This is not about race or gender. It is not that she opposes Presiden Uribe, is a free country and she is entitle to her opinion. But she has make statements that she supports the FARC and she support Chavez crazy agenda. She was there when this people was freed because is good publicity.. But what has she done for state?? nothing, what has she done for the thousand of children that the FARC takes out their family and turns them into criminals?? nothing. If the FARC wanted to freed the 2000 people that they have captive they would. But Mrs Cordoba is their puppet so they can get the other 500 guerrilleros that are in jail free. When did it become okay to free criminals for innocent people??? This conflict is very complicated, I am not an expert, but neither are either of you who think you know whats going on and have not even spoke with the colombian people about it. Just get your ideas from a newspaper, and well we know how often they write the truth. I'm a colombian and all I can say this would be a slap in the face for my country, for all the victims of violence, for all our soldiers that fought against the FARC, ELM, M-19. She does not want peace, she wants to push her political agenda, through the face of peace. |
Manuel
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... Rod says the FARC is "the only thing that is wrong with our country". Unbelievable, so you don't think the widespread drug violence in our cities is wrong, you don't think that the hundreds of thousands displaced mostly by the paramilitaries is wrong, you don't think the selective killings made by the army to obtain bonuses from the goverment is wrong, you don't think the illegal wiretapping made by the DAS is wrong ? So for you Colombia is a paradise that only has one serious problem and that is the FARC guerrillas, once they are anhiliated this would country would be heaven on earth ??? And you dare to call the international community "naive" ?? |
Felipe D
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... Adrian, it seems that you have your mind made up just as much as those opposing Cordoba (myself included), and with just as little information. So it all comes down to what you believe, and everyone is entitled to voice their opinion based on their beliefs and own observations. I dont think Cordoba works for peace, she is just as polarizing as her opponents, she is just as vile and publicly offensive towards her contradictors as they are to her. That she is in a minority does not make her a martyr, nor does it make her wrong either, she is just that, a minority. She is an actor of the ongoing conflict rather than someone trying to stop it. |
Adriaan
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... @ Felipe, I have my mind made up that I don't like her, because she's a politician. However, I appreciate that she has been able to get the FARC to talk (which could result in them using less violence) and has mediated the release of hostages. (Call me a hippie, but I don't particularly like war and am happy for those families who have their loved ones back alive). Unlike other senators, she has not been convicted for bribery, has not used paramilitary groups to intimidate voters, or has been proven corrupt. This is not little information, these are facts. Don't twist things. (Although I wouldn't be surprised if she's just as corrupt as the rest) I seriously have the idea that a lot of people are being lead by hatred, ignorance and fear and are acting like mass-hysterical sheep without having any solid arguments to back up their hysteria. All this is the perfect mix of ingredients for a never-ending war. So far, the only one who has come up with arguments against Cordoba was Sebastian and he isn't even opposing her. Hating a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for bogus reasons does not look good. |
Roberto
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... Piedad Cordoba is a politician who supports terrorist like Farc organization that have killed thousands of peasents in Colombia. These terrorists have planted thousands of land mines thorougtout the colombia that have killed or mutilated thousands of children. To have this women at the same level of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and other prominent man and women that have died for peace in the world is an insult to their memories and their accomplishments. PLEASE DO NOT GRANT THIS TITLE TO THIS WOMEN. SHE DOES NOT DESERVE IT. |
Glosario
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... Piedad is a corrupt latinamerican politician, just as her enemies are. I don't want to see any awards in the hands of either side of the conflict because both are playing sick games with millions of people and are the ones behind the slaughter of thousands. I wouldn't like her receiving an award because the only thing to come out of that would be a hypocrite claim to her actions being motivated by anything but greed. Chavez is not a saint, but he's got a documentary as one. Put this cherry on top, and soon enough everyone outside will even believe that Mahmoud is not that much of a bad guy, and everyone will turn a blind eye to the corruption. If you want to give an award to someone in Colombia, check for journalists who fight both against Uribe and Chavez. Or for the MDs doing voluntary work for the ones injured by the landmines in Colombia. Look for the ones that heal, not the ones getting profit for the suffering. |
Glosario
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... This woman is a politician, as corrupt as they come and getting a profit out of the war. They shouldn't be awarding one side of the conflict or the other. Because they're both dirty in this place, there's no such thing as freedom fighters or peacekeepers here. It's little more than a turf war between drug dealers. You should look out for journalists that fight against both Uribe and Chavez or MDs that help the victims of landmines in Colombia. Or travel to the country, see what's it really like. Both in Colombia and Venezuela. As backpackers, not as special guests of either side. You would see another truth going in that way. This woman is just a hideous character playing with the lives of others. |
sanrestre
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... Not the most objective article i have seen. Let me remind you that the goverment´s suspictions are substented by a series of proofs, such as Raul Reyes computers, that contain information about coordinated policies againt the institutions of Colombia. this computers, recovered from his main camp in Ecuador, where certified by Interpol agents. Raul Reyes was the second in command of the rebel (also terrorist) insurgent organization, FARC. If supporting actively such a group is an act of peace, i guess Orwell was rigth, peace is war, isnt it?. |
Felipe D
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... @Adrian The facts you expose are known to everybody. Again, you are as (miss)informed as the rest of us, and it is all a matter of opinion.I don't think she works for peace, if she did, she would work for the FARC and the government to get together, instead of driving them apart by sympathizing with one side and attacking the other. It should be obvios that a mediator should not take sides. The conflict is far from over, thanks to extreme views from those in the government and those opposing it, Cordoba included. And if I can throw a little fact in here, Cordoba stole her election to the Senate in 2002. She appeared as losing her seat in the Senate according to results after the election, but about a week later she was given some additional votes that miracoulosly allowed her to keep her seat. Justice, being slow, took 4 years to prove that she had in fact lost the election, but the term she stole was already about to end and she had been reelected anyway. She was not directly tied to the fraud but, being as missinformed as the next guy, it is just my opinion that she was in on it. I know it is a cliche to say that i respect your opinion (and I do), but siding with Cordoba does not make you a more sensible person toward the victims of this war. We can keep debating about our views on Cordaba's role and the government's, but opposing her does not make a fearful sheep out of anyone. I think I have grounds not to trust her, that's all. |
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