Can Colombia’s President Achieve ‘Total Peace’?
Foreign PolicyNov 08, 2022
Representatives of the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group issued a joint statement on Monday praising and concluding the first round of peace talks, which was held in Caracas, Venezuela.
The parties claimed to have reached four points of agreement so far — including acknowledging the gravity of the violence and the need for immediate attention regarding the provinces of Choco and Valle del Cauca.
Though significant obstacles remain, the fact that Colombia and its leaders have indicated there is hope for peaceful dialogue shows that this historically violent country may have turned over a new leaf. It won't be easy to persuade all stakeholders to reach an agreement, but Petro has already conducted more diplomacy than his predecessors.
It's evident that Colombia needs total peace, but it shouldn't come at the vast cost of implementing total impunity. Petro's plan is disastrous, as it would allow asset laundering operations to benefit criminals who should instead be forced to pay sanctions and hand over their tainted money to the Colombian people.
Petro's "Total Peace" plan offers a general framework to open dialogue and is a step towards achieving his ambitious goal, but the strategy is risky as there is no alternative if negotiations go wrong or if criminal groups refuse to lay down their arms. Most problematically, this proposal fails to tackle the roots of violence in Colombia and could further decentralize groups, as evidenced by the FARC's demobilization.