Colombia: A tale of two protests

On February 4^th, millions of protestors in Colombia and around the world marched against violence caused by the FARC guerilla group. The genesis of the protest was a Facebook entry created in January by three young adults. Participation grew through word of mouth and a strong media focus as marchers shouted “No mas FARC” (“No more FARC”).

Some were critical of the marches with Colombian legislator Piedad Cordoba calling them “an expression of hatred, racism and exclusion.” And even though the protest’s organizers emphasized that the marches should avoid overtly political overtones, a few people used the occasion to denounce Hugo Chavez:

Many marchers supported Mr. Uribe and chanted slogans against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Last month, Mr. Chavez played a key role during the release of two high-profile hostages held by the FARC. But after the hostages were released, the Venezuelan president suggested that the FARC be taken off the list of terrorist groups and be deemed a legitimate army.

Juan Alejandro Garzón, a self-employed environmentalist, carried a large banner that read: "Chavez: Get it right, Colombians don't want the FARC.

Meanwhile, a “collective of human rights groups” is calling for protests on March 6^th against violence caused by paramilitarism in Colombia. Much like the misguided views opposed to the actions of February 4th, some have denounced the March 6^th protests. One unfortunate example is from the Colombian government itself:

“I personally will not participate, as I did enthusiastically in the march against the FARC,” was the response of José Obdulio Gaviria, a presidential advisor considered to be President Uribe’s chief ideologist. “It will be difficult for Colombian society to participate in this type of event, when we just finished marching against the people who are convening it.”

In the end, whether the March protests get the same amount of attention and participation as this month’s marches remain to be seen. One hopes that it does as a sign of repudiation of the needless violence in Colombia.

Sources (English)- Scotsman.com, International Herald Tribune, Foreign Policy Passport, Prensa Latina, Christian Science Monitor, Plan Colombia and Beyond

Sources (Spanish)- El Tiempo, RCN

Image- Al Jazeera