The upcoming presidential election in Colombia is a stark reminder of the country's tumultuous past and the ongoing struggle for peace. With the nation grappling with the lingering trauma of six decades of armed conflict, the election has become a battleground for two contrasting visions of the future. On one side stands Iván Cepeda, a peace activist advocating for the continuation of President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' agenda. This strategy involves negotiating with a range of criminal groups, from drug mafias to insurgent fighters, in an attempt to rewire Colombia's approach to conflict resolution. However, critics argue that this strategy has largely failed, as armed groups have exploited ceasefires to strengthen their positions.
In contrast, Abelardo de la Espriella, a lawyer and Trump-endorsed candidate, promises an all-out offensive on crime, echoing El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs. While Bukele's crackdown has significantly reduced homicide rates, it has also sparked allegations of human rights abuses. De la Espriella's approach, which includes vowing to wipe out criminal targets like 'cockroaches and rats', raises concerns among victims of past violence, such as Blanca Nubia Monroy and Sigifredo López.
Monroy's son, Julián Oviedo Monroy, became one of the 6,402 victims of the 'false positives' scandal, where Colombian military officers executed civilians under the guise of enemy combatants. This dark chapter in Colombia's history is still fresh in the minds of its people, and Monroy fears that de la Espriella's military campaign could bring back the horrors of the past. Similarly, López, a self-proclaimed leftist, worries about the potential consequences of a right-wing shift in the country's leadership, given the ongoing violence and the threat of further victimization.
The election's polarization reflects a broader societal divide, with increasing 'us vs. them' attitudes on both sides. Elizabeth Dickinson, the deputy Latin America director of the International Crisis Group, warns that this polarization, brewing for decades, could lead to dangerous consequences in a country with a long history of political violence. As the nation prepares to vote, the fear of a return to past violence looms large, leaving Colombia at a critical juncture in its journey towards peace and stability.
