By Satyaki Chakraborty
Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president on August 7 after winning a run-off election on promises to crack down on armed groups, cut government spending by as much as 40 percent, and revive the South American country’s oil and gas industry.
The right wing president who defeated the Left coalition candidate in June presidential elections held the oath taking ceremony, breaking with tradition ,not in the capital, Bogota, but in Cali, a city in Colombia’s volatile southwest that has long borne the brunt of the government’s conflict with armed groups.. This was a deliberate decision to convey the new government’s policy of taking strong armed tactics against the Columbian rebels. Under the outgoing Left wing regime headed by former President Gustavo Petro, there was a negotiated peace agreement with the rebels.
“There will be no room for manoeuvres that undermine the stability of the nation,” de la Espriella said after taking over, as he pledged to “relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism”.. He also said that the option of dialogue has been completely exhausted. He assured the big industrialists including the U.S. companies that his government will be a partner in their efforts to industrialise Colombia..Espriella visited the army station soon after swearing and extended all support to the army in their fight against the rebels.
It is recalled that the south west region of Columbia is the main operational ground of the ELN rebels as also the drug cartels. The new president has ruled out any negotiations with the rebels. Simultaneously, he announced his decision to join the US backed regional coalition ‘’Shield of Americas”” to cooperate in fighting drug cartels. Earlier , the Leftist President Petro refused to join this coalition. Espriella also announced to restore relations with Israel and severe ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
The US State Department on Friday said the Trump administration plans to provide $1bn in security assistance to de la Espriella, pending approval from the US Congress.
“As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella’s Administration in achieving our shared goals,” the State Department said in a statement.
Columbia’s common people are worried at the hard stand of the new President on the rebels who lied low during the regime of Gustavo Petro. Columbia’s 62 year old armed conflict seems to be reviving again as the right wing President has closed all doors for negotiation with ELN rebels. The rebels are now ready to fight the new regime as the president tells the army to go ruthlessly against the ELN rebels.
Along with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the ELN was the most important of the guerrilla groups. Founded in 1964, it fused Marxism-Leninism with Che Guevara’s foco theory – the idea that a small armed band in a remote rural area can eventually topple the state – and Liberation theology, which framed the struggle against poverty and oppression as an expression of Christian faith.
According to Columbian media reports, De la Espriella has given Colombia’s armed groups a month to submit to him or face the consequences, while promising to deepen security cooperation with the US and build mega-prisons inspired by the Salvadoran president, NayibBukele. Sources say that the ELN has about 6300 members. They control some areas and collect taxes also from local people. The possibility of a fresh armed conflict in Columbia is now real after the coming of the right wing regime. (IPA Service)
