A dozen retired and active officials from Colombia told Reuters that members of Colombia’s armed force, especially its police, are concerned about the potential for significant changes if Gustavo Petro is elected president.
Since the 1960s, Colombia’s military has been fighting guerrilla movements and played a significant role in the U.S. Drug War. According to active military officials, major changes could impact international cooperation in the fight against cocaine production. They declined to identify themselves as they weren’t authorized to discuss elections.
Colombia will spend 12% of its 2022 budget on defense — $11 billion, or a quarter of the total amount — which is second in Latin America to Brazil.
Petro, an ex-member of M-19 Guerrillas and a critic of military establishment, has promised that service personnel accused of human rights violations will be tried in regular courts, not the military courts which have historically handed out lighter sentences.
Colombia will spend 12% of its 2022 budget on defense — $11 billion, or a quarter of the total amount — which is second in Latin America to Brazil.
Petro, an ex-member of M-19 Guerrillas and a critic of military establishment, has promised that service personnel accused of human rights violations will be tried in regular courts, not the military ones, which have historically handed out lighter sentences.
He also promised a complete restructuring of the police including the dismantling of its highly-criticized riot team.
Petro said that the army’s function is defense, while the police’s function is to protect rights or liberties. He also stated that he intends to professionalize the armed force by eliminating the need for military service for men.
The “false negative” scandal in Colombia, where soldiers killed over 6,000 people to get promotions, has been a major issue in Colombia’s military.
He also promised a complete restructuring of the police including the dismantling of its much-criticized “riot squad”.
Petro said that the army’s function is defense, while the police’s function is to protect rights or liberties. He also stated that he intends to professionalize the armed force by eliminating the need for military service for men.
The “false negative” scandal in Colombia, where soldiers killed over 6,000 people to get promotions, has been a major issue in Colombia’s military.
Petro was held for 16 months in 1985. He claims he was tortured by military personnel.
Petro’s plans contrast sharply with those of Rodolfo Hernandez, a businessman who claims he will modernize military equipment and support joint operations. He also promises to raise salaries and expand training in human rights.
Petro’s possible victory could be feared by politicians and businessmen, but 11 active officers from the army, navy, and police Reuters spoke with ruled that out.
General of the Army with 35 years’ military experience stated that “whoever is elected president, all troops, from the humble soldier to the highest ranking general, will recognize him.” “Those who don’t agree or feel uncomfortable are out of luck. They can retire.”
John Marulanda (a former army colonel and president of the association for retired military officials) stated that “there’s not much the Armed Forces can do other than comply with (the winners’) orders.”
Marulanda was compared to peaceful handovers in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Peru, where leftist leaders recently took power.
Reuters was told by a source from the army and a police officer that Petro, when he was Bogota’s mayor, was respectful of his interactions with them.
Petro has a big agenda. He promises to make peace with rebels of the National Liberation Army, fully implement the 2016 peace agreement with FARC guerrillas, and push crime gangs such as the Clan del Golfo into surrendering their arms.
According to active officials, these moves could result in the suspension of certain military operations, budget and staffing reductions, and possibly allow for the expansion of illegal crop production.
Petro pledged to end poverty among Colombians, with around 40% living in poverty by 2021. He also said that he wouldn’t waste resources on bombs or guns.
A Navy admiral charged with combating cocaine production stated that “We face the risk of losing territory” in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
Marulanda stated that any increase in coca cultivation, which is the main ingredient in cocaine, could lead to tensions with the United States.
The Mexican leftist President Andres López Obrador has already criticized the U.S.’s regional drug enforcement efforts. He shuttered an elite unit which had been working for decades with U.S Drug Enforcement Agency and claimed it was being infiltrated.
Petro called the drug war “completely failure”, stating that drug trafficking is the result limited socioeconomic opportunities. He suggested that instead of supporting small farmers with substitute crops, the government should support them and increase their incomes.
The most likely change will be in Colombia’s police force. It has been criticized for handling recent anti-government protests that resulted in dozens of deaths. Continue reading
Petro promised to take it out of the Defense Ministry in order to give it a civilian appearance.
He also proposed to ban police from participating assault operations against armed group and to dismantle ESMAD’s riot unit, which was responsible for many protester deaths.
Hernandez has said that he would remove any officers involved in violations of rights and that he would not use the ESMAD to suppress protesters. However, Hernandez has not stated whether he will close the unit.
“We are concerned by the reduction in operations, an increase in crime while we redefine roles,” said a former police officer who has been involved in combating drug trafficking.
Marulanda and one active official both stated that they were worried Petro would seek to extend his term by encouraging loyalists in the armed forces. This is a similarity to Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chavez.
Petro has made a mockery of opponents’ attempts to compare him with Chavez, and stated that he would only serve his four-year limit.
