Revolution in Latin America Conflict, Chaos and Cocaine in Colombia

Major Revolutionary Movements “Revolution” goal:  Transformation of oppressive societal structures Most movements in Latin America aspire to transformation but fail to achieve this goal. Three periods:  Independence – elite “revolution”  Influence of Fidel ( to Sandinista defeat)  Individuals – new social movements (indigenous)

South American Movements Argentina  Monteros/Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP) Bolivia  Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario ( )  Túpac Amaru (1780 sporadic – throughout Andes) Colombia (1964-Present)  Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia  Ejército de Liberación Nacional  Quintín Lame  Auto-defensas Unidas de Colombia  M-19  Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores Peru  Sendero Luminoso (1980)  Hugo Blanco Uruguay  Tupamaros

Caribbean and Central American Movements Cuba  26 th of July Movement 1959-Present El Salvador  Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), Mexico  Mexican Revolution 1910  Chiapas, Zapatistas – Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, 1 January 1994 Nicaragua  Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN),

Colombia La Violencia Power sharing agreement to end conflict. Emergence of multiple “revolutionary” groups  FARC (Revolutionary Army of Colombia 1964)  ELN (National Liberation Army 1964)  AUC (United Self Defense Forces of Colombia)  EPL (Popular Liberation Army 1965)  M-19 (April 19 th Movement)

Colombian Politics Two party system  Liberals and Conservatives  Organized to prevent legal dissent.  1956 National Front Belisario Betancur  1983 peace talks.  FARC forms Patriotic Union (political branch)  Congressional defection – 1986 government crackdown Mid-1990s  Two front war: Cocaine cartel and FARC.  Defeat of cartel = financial opportunity for FARC.  Government use of paramilitary de-legitimizing. Alvaro Uribe  Hardline new president of Colombia  Bush administration budget proposes increased funding while all other Latin American countries will be cut.

FARC Roots in repressed coffee labor movement. Coffee laborers supported by Colombian Communist Party. Assassination of Jorge Gaitán, Cuban revolution inspiration moves movement beyond self-defense to “revolution”. Retains nominal support of Marxist goals today. Governed by a general secretariat led by longtime leader Manuel Marulanda (a.k.a. “Tirofijo”/Sureshot). Organized along military lines and includes several units that operate mostly in key urban areas such as Bogotá (present in 60% of municipal areas 2005). Funded with coca “taxes” – demise of Escobar 1993

ELN National Liberation Army 1965: Marxist insurgent group, formed by urban intellectuals inspired by Castro and Guevara. Primary opposition to FARC Leader Felipe Torres.

AUC United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC) formed in 1997 to protect economic interests and combat FARC and ELN insurgents. Supported by economic elites, drug traffickers, and local communities lacking effective government security and claims its primary objective is to protect its sponsors from insurgents. Frequently aided by Colombian military (clandestine) Leader Carlos Castano, negotiating to demobilize.