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 (1959-90 to Sandinista defeat) Individuals – new social movements (indigenous)

South American Movements Argentina

Monteros/Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP) Bolivia

Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (1952-1964) 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

26th of July Movement 1959-Present El Salvador

Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), 1980-1992.

Mexico Mexican Revolution 1910 Chiapas, Zapatistas – Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación

Nacional, 1 January 1994 Nicaragua

Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), 1979-1990

Colombia

La Violencia 1948-1958. 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 19th 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 2007-2008 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.