The announcement by the Government of Gustavo Petro, through his Minister of Defense Iván Velásquez, that “there will be peace negotiations” with the Second Marquetalia, one of the branches of the FARC dissidents led by alias ‘Iván Márquez’ , should be taken with caution in regions such as the department of Huila.
Although any intention to promote channels of understanding and reconciliation with illegally armed groups is plausible, the historical and current precedent leads to receiving approaches with ‘Márquez’ with reservation.
In the past, the Government of Andrés Pastrana undertook peace talks with the then FARC guerrilla. Their generosity even led to an extensive region of Caquetá and Meta being declared a clearing zone. This fact was taken advantage of by the illegal group to strengthen itself. The neighborhood with that territory generated enormous economic, social and security damage to Huila. Neiva was a permanent epicenter of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and extortion. Employment fell dramatically.
More than 20 years later, something similar is happening in the Government of Gustavo Petro, who since the end of 2022 has been talking about peace with the FARC dissidents under the command of ‘Iván Mordisco’. This illegal group, which never accepted the peace agreement signed during the Government of Juan Manuel Santos, has taken advantage of the ceasefire to strengthen itself and Huila has been one of the most affected. Its expansion is undeniable.
Therefore, it is key that clear rules be established to prevent the peace talks with the Second Marquetalia of ‘Márquez’ from ending up promoting its strengthening. Today, this illegal group is decimated and in the case of Huila its presence is practically limited to the municipality of Algeciras.
Governor Rodrigo Villalba and other regional and municipal authorities must be attentive to the development of the negotiations with ‘Iván Márquez’ and not be afraid to establish positions in favor of the security and well-being of the people of Huila.
#Colombia
