New Colombia march
Adam Isacson has a great discussion about the anti-paramilitary violence march planned for March 6 in
“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.”
Gaviria’s words are terribly unfortunate. Not only does a top Colombian government official reject the March 6 protests, he alleges that its organizers, the National Victims’ Movement, are indistinguishable from the FARC. This is the worst sort of slander, and the Colombian government must not let it stand.
6 comments:
It certainly will be interesting to see if people like Piedad Cordoba, who denounced the march against the FARC, do the same with this one.
Paul-
No, it won't. Your analogy is pretty poor. Piedad Cordoba feared that the Feb 4 March would be politicized. The proper analogy for March 6 would be...an uribista accusing the March 6 event of being politicized. Which, as you can see, is...exactly what has happened. Except that Cordoba didn't claim the Feb 4 March was a paramilitary ploy, which would be the equivalent of what Obdulio Gaviria said.
"Your analogy is pretty poor. "
I didn't draw an analogy.
Cordoba called the anti-FARC march "racist, and hateful." I don't have a clue what was racist about it, but I do agree it was based on hate for the FARC. Good. I hate the terrorists, too.
If she and her allies march in this one, it will look a tad hypocritical to say the least, no?
Perhaps we don't share the same definition of hypocrisy. Cordoba's remarks (which I don't agree with) were clearly in relation to the fact that she viewed the march as a pro-government event. By contrast, she sees the March 6 event as a more grassroots expression. The other part of the context is that Cordoba is obviously wishes to maintain her ability to mediate with the FARC, which has led her to several perhaps ill-advised actions (the photos being another instance). One is obviously welcome to disagree (both marches seem worthy to me, and I think Petro is right that the Polo is too weak against the FARC) but I really fail to see the hypocrisy.
"..in relation to the fact that she viewed the march as a pro-government event. By contrast, she sees the March 6 event as a more grassroots expression."
You really think that's an honest assessment?
Come on.
Chomsky is supporting the march.
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