The Paramilitaries and the Peace of Colombia

The peace agreements between the members of an armed group and a State, are not other than the reestablishment of the social contract. The acceptation of the armed group into the society with all the civil guaranties in pledge of their compromise to stop using violence to solve any discrepancies within the society.

But the agreements are not enough to guarantee a satisfactory ending to the conflict. It is also required to completely achieve the goals of the agreements from both parties in conflict. Otherwise the non-compliance of the agreements shows a lack of commitment from the parties involved.

This lack of commitment is the main concern on the actual negotiations between the current Colombian government and the extreme right wing movement, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC. Although partial demobilizations and symbolic surrender of their guns, they are still influencing, through the coactions and fear, regional politics and developing important base groups in order to interfere with the democratic processes.

Is not that the armed people can not get into politics and express their ideas. It is just that these ideas should not be imposed by force, terror and fear. It is just that while their legal situation is not yet solved they are not part on the democratic life of the country; since, they have not reestablished their social contract as individuals. Although they have done so as armed group, which allows them to get some advantages from the justice system.

But It is not only the violent way of participating into politics that worries the civil society, it is also their "social campaigns" that support illegal actions, like taking by force land from its legal owners. These actions are specially supported by organizations like "Corporation Democracia" (Corporation: Democracy) formed by former members of the paramilitary groups, and subsidized from unknown funds.

The reinsertion process implies certain promises that the heads of the armed groups and the government were committed to comply. But as "The International Crisis Group" informed this is not happening. Since December 2002, when the cease fire was declared by the AUC , 2,000 people were killed. These facts are a terrible precedent to the expectative of peace for the near future.

The Colombian Society is baring a cost by accepting the armed people back into the civil society. This token of compromise needs to get an equal response from the armed people. It needs to be clear from the beginning whether or not they are resolved to relinquish to violent means. The hope of Peace of the Colombian Society deserves a fair play.

Hollman Lozano.
 hollman.lozano@yahoo.ca