The United Nations blasted Colombia’s government in its latest report on the country’s state system, claiming that the state forms a threat to the success of an ongoing peace process just like illegal armed groups.
In a particularly harsh quarterly report, UN Mission Chief Jean Arnault told to the Security Council that the peace process, and particularly the reintegration of demobilized FARC is threatened, partly because of “weak state institutions or their non-existence.”
Understanding the causes of Colombia’s conflict: Weak, corrupt state institutions
UN mission chief in Colombia Jean Arnault
Colombia’s corruption-ridden elites vs the UN
President Ivan Duque (L), a dynasty politician who is implicated in the Odebrecht bribery scandal, and UN mission chief Jean Arnault, who in his career monitored seven peace process before coming to Colombia. (Image: President’s Office)
Arnault, one of the UN’s most experienced peace observers, was visibly displeased during a press conference that followed a meeting with President Ivan Duque, a member of one of Colombia’s many political dynasties, last month.
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Between formalities, Arnault discredited Duque’s self-proclaimed commitment to peace, reminding the president they hadn’t even met since his inauguration on August 7.
Duque has opposed peace with the FARC since he entered Congress in 2014 and has vowed to unilaterally amend the peace deal bartered by his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos.
Many of Duque’s political and economical backers — particularly the president’s political patron, former President Alvaro Uribe — have been implicated in some of the country’s worst atrocities, and have tried to sabotage the peace process.
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UN chief praises court defense of war crimes tribunal’s powers
Former President and former Medellin Cartel associate Alvaro Uribe — here posing with former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle — is awaiting trial over charges related to his role in the formation of death squads that left millions of victims. (Image: United States State Department)
The UN chief in Colombia praised the country’s Constitutional Court for blocking multiple attempts by Congress to limit the powers of a war crimes tribunal.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) earlier this year began investigating who is ultimately responsible for the 210,000 civilian deaths, 80,000 missing persons and the forced displacement of more than 7.5 million Colombians during the conflict.
More than sixty congressmen and seven governors have already been convicted for war crimes, but both the leaders of the FARC and demobilized paramilitary umbrella organization AUC have accused the private sector and the “uribistas” of trying to cover up tens of thousands of war crimes they could be responsible for.
The leaders of the former arch enemies met last year to jointly commit to take part in a Truth Commission that is opposed by the president, his political patron, former military commanders and many in the private sector.
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Arnault urged Duque to “without delay” transfer the promised funds that would allow criminal proceedings against the FARC and the military, and the release of more than 200 FARC members who remain in jail almost two years after they were promised to be allowed to await trial in freedom.
Meanwhile in Colombia’s war-torn countryside
Forensic investigators recover the remains of a community leader who allegedly was killed by AGC paramilitaries in “uribista” heartland Antioquia last month. (Image: Colprensa)
The UN chief urged Colombia’s authorities to improve security in Colombia’s long-neglected countryside, particularly in near the compounds where demobilized FARC members are trying to reintegrate into society.
The security forces’ failure to assume territorial control over abandoned FARC territory caused a power vacuum that has been filled by all kinds of semi-legal and illegal forces.
UN mission chief Jean Arnault
Killing Colombia
A month after the “Aguilas Negras” death squad sent out a general death threat in southern Huila saying it would kill “opposing the political project proposed by Mr. Ivan Duque,” the president visited to area to talk about his controversial government’s plans. (Image: President’s Office)
Since 2016, more than 340 community leaders and human rights defenders have been assassinated, according to the Ombudsman’s Office.
UN mission chief Jean Arnault
More than 70 FARC members and 20 family members of demobilized guerrillas were also murdered, and more than 200 peasants that grew coca, the base ingredient of cocaine, have been assassinated since May last year.
According to the country’s Medical Examiner’s Office, homicides in general increased 8% in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year, when Duque’s predecessor presented the lowest homicide rates in the history of national homicide rates.
While denying the existence of paramilitary groups that have been accused of being the primary human rights violators in the country for years and allegedly control 80% of the country’s drug trade, Duque announced to increase military operations against dissident FARC guerrillas who rearmed amid the failing reintegration efforts of the country’s peace process.