The Situation in Colombia

[TheGodlessUtopian]

News from Colombia still periodically releases and since we haven't had a news thread for it yet I think it is time so this way a new thread doesn't get started every time something of moderate importance happens.
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Colombia (http://colombiareports.com)'s largest guerrilla group, the FARC (http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/26260-farc.html), on Monday began their "armed strike" in the western department of Choco, effectively halting traffic on the road connecting the cities of Quibdo and Medellin (http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/medellin.html).
In late January, FARC pamphlets informed residents that vehicles traveling on the road would be considered military targets from February 1 until February 20.

BACKGROUND: FARC threatens to shut down Western Colombia (http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/27917-farc-threatens-armed-strike-in-western-colombia.html)

The six bus companies serving the routes to Medellin, Cali (http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/cali.html), and Bogota (http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/bogota.html), on Monday said that they would not dispatch buses due to the FARC shutdown.
Due to the lack of public transport, the only way to travel between the municipalities of Choco was to go by motortaxi, reported radio station La FM. (http://www.lafm.com.co/noticias/choco-sigue-paralizado-en-130750#ixzz2Jw63knky)
According to news reports, police and military on Monday patrolled the Choco transport terminal and found that there were no buses or passengers.
Authorities said there was no shortage of basic products in the area, despite the inability to bring in supplies by road.

The Choco department is the intersection of two FARC Blocs. The Northwestern Bloc, which has a sizable presence in the northern region of the department, and the Western Bloc, which is primarily based in the southSource: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/27988-farc-shutdown-of-western-colombia-begins.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_510840295635634_9464 2577_511284512257879#f21ba7081ee1f5e

[Crabbensmasher]

Well, say what you will about FARC, but they are determined little bastards aren't they?
I still can't help but think their support base is really diminishing in Colombia though. I really don't see how acts like this help their cause much; It just spreads fear throughout the people they claim to represent.
This, coupled with their government's stance towards the organization as "terrorist", must lead to a lot of negative perceptions in the public. Like, in the media, I assume their talked about just like a drug cartel or violent gang.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Well, say what you will about FARC, but they are determined little bastards aren't they?
I still can't help but think their support base is really diminishing in Colombia though. I really don't see how acts like this help their cause much; It just spreads fear throughout the people they claim to represent.
This, coupled with their government's stance towards the organization as "terrorist", must lead to a lot of negative perceptions in the public. Like, in the media, I assume their talked about just like a drug cartel or violent gang.

Comrade, if you wish to discuss certain aspects of FARC in relation to how the events over there develop than please start a new thread devoted to that cause; news threads, like this one, are meant for the posting of "breaking news" only, not commentary.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Colombia’s two main left-wing guerrilla groups FARC and ELN Monday announced the forming of an alliance to increase attacks against state security forces and to sabotage large-scale multinational projects in the northwestern department of Antioquia.
“During the first days of February the prime leaders of the FARC and ELN…in the Bajo Cauca and the high northeast [Uraba region and the Paramillo mountain range] reunited. It was decided [that both groups will] keep fighting against mega-projects, large-scale mining operations, large hydroelectric dams and mono-cultivation [fields], which is impoverishing the people and the environment,” read a statement released by the ELN.
The FARC did not immediately confirm the alliance.
“Within the agreed plan of action, units from the Captain Mauricio Front of the ELN together with FARC guerrillas on February 12 attacked the [army's] Nudo de Paramillo Task Force, leaving two soldiers dead … The insurgent force did not suffer casualties,” the ELN statement concluded.
The FARC and the smaller rebel group ELN were engaged in a series of bloody turf wars during the 1990′s up until 2009, when the former top FARC leader “Alfonso Cano” succeeded in creating an almost country-wide peace accord.
Unlike the ELN, the FARC is currently involved in peace talks with the government to end the guerrilla group’s nearly 50-year-old war against the state.
MORE…

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/28221-eln-alliance-with-farc-in-northwestern-colombia.html


Source: http://www.systemiccapital.com/eln-announces-alliance-with-farc-in-northwestern-colombia/

[TheGodlessUtopian]

One of the leaders of Colombia (http://colombiareports.com)’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC (http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/26260-farc.html), on Sunday said that they are not a drug trafficking organization and though they have entered into peace negotiations with the government, they have not relinquished their desire to “take power” and change Colombian politics.
Rodrigo Granda, considered the FARC’s foreign minister, told newspaper El Colombiano that the accusations that the FARC is nothing but a drug trafficking organization “is a shame.”
“We are not drug traffickers, we are an organization with clear political policy ideas and for this reason the government is obliged to sit down and talk with us. Colombia would not sit down with a group of drug traffickers, Cuba would not sit as a guarantor with a group of drug traffickers, Venezuela and Chile would not sit down with with a group of drug dealers, I don’t think Norway has recieved a group of drug traffickers,” said Granda, referring to the four countries who have observed the peace process thus far.
The rebel leader said that the FARC’s presence at the peace negotiation table did not mean the group had given up on its core demands.
“We have not given up on taking power. What happens is that our strategic plan takes various forms. From Marquetalia [where the FARC was founded], Marulanda [FARC founder] and his men saw that it was possible to develop non-violent, unarmed confrontation…We arrived in Havana and said that if the gates are opened and the political environment changes where no Colombian can be killed for their political ideas [then we will have opened] the gates to a democracy,” said Granda.
Working with the state, however, is something Granda said the guerrillas were weary and even distrustful of.
“We have a sad history, the largest political genocide on the continent, [was] that of the Patriotic Union [which left] 5,000 people dead.” The Patriotic Union (UP) party was formed in 1985 by the FARC and the Colombian Communist party as a result of peace talks between the rebels and the administration of Belisario Betancur. “The causes which [allowed] the extermination of the UP have still not been exterminated. What guarantees do we have in this moment?”

MORE…

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/peace-talks/28289-we-are-not-drug-traffickers-farc.html


Source: http://www.systemiccapital.com/we-are-not-drug-traffickers-farc/

[Gorra Negra]

I really don't see the need for this thread to be in sticky. I came in hoping to read about the student movement or other struggles but this is just FARC related and it is not very good.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

I really don't see the need for this thread to be in sticky. I came in hoping to read about the student movement or other struggles but this is just FARC related and it is not very good.

Well a communist organization that controls 30% of a country is kinda a big deal, in comparison to some students getting uppity about tuition fees. Still I would like coverage of the student movement as a part of this thread, however I know that TGU is a bit overtaxed so if you are willing to provide some articles and devote yourself to giving us updates then go ahead.

[MarxArchist]

Well a communist organization that controls 30% of a country is kinda a big deal, in comparison to some students getting uppity about tuition fees. Still I would like coverage of the student movement as a part of this thread, however I know that TGU is a bit overtaxed so if you are willing to provide some articles and devote yourself to giving us updates then go ahead.

What do you think will happen if they seize state power? Capitalist nations will cut off trade- the USA is Columbia's no1 trading partner as it is but all capitalist nations will cut off trade. Which advanced nations will step in to support them economically (maybe Iran and China)? Which advanced nations will step in to support them when the USA decides to utilize these:

http://progressive.org/danglmarch10.html

How will they combat counterrevolution without support from Soviet Russia or China? Would Russia or China be willing to restart the cold war? Not likely. If they seized state power how long do you think they could hold onto it? What I'm saying is building socialist states in smaller nations that don't have MAJOR military and economic support, is, well, doomed to fail.

[La Guaneña]

What do you think will happen if they seize state power? Capitalist nations will cut off trade. Which advanced nations will step in to support them? Which advanced nations will step in to support them when the USA decides to utilize these:

http://progressive.org/danglmarch10.html

How will they combat counterrevolution without support from Soviet Russia or China? Would Russia or China be willing to restart the cold war? Not likely. If they seized state power how long do you think they could hold onto it?

So should they just put down the guns and wait untill the world revolution starts and all of Europe goes down the socialism path?

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

What do you think will happen if they seize state power? Capitalist nations will cut off trade- the USA is Columbia's no1 trading partner as it is but all capitalist nations will cut off trade. Which advanced nations will step in to support them economically (maybe Iran and China)? Which advanced nations will step in to support them when the USA decides to utilize these:

http://progressive.org/danglmarch10.html

How will they combat counterrevolution without support from Soviet Russia or China? Would Russia or China be willing to restart the cold war? Not likely. If they seized state power how long do you think they could hold onto it? What I'm saying is building socialist states in smaller nations that don't have MAJOR military and economic support, is, well, doomed to fail.

So basically what you're saying is that we shouldn't care about the third world? That we shouldn't express solidarity with our comrades in these countries because of geographical location? That's euro-centrism bordering on something nastier comrade.

[Taters]

So basically what you're saying is that we shouldn't care about the third world? That we shouldn't express solidarity with our comrades in these countries because of geographical location? That's euro-centrism bordering on something nastier comrade.

That may be twisting their words a bit. They're saying a revolution there would be crushed or choked out of existence by the US. Counterrevolution would be swift and deadly.
Of course, I'm not agreeing there should be no revolution in Columbia at all.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

That may be twisting their words a bit. They're saying a revolution there would crushed or choked out of existence by the US. Counterrevolution would be swift and deadly.
Of course, I'm not agreeing there should be no revolution in Columbia at all.

Well of course this is a possibility, but if there is a revolution in America then there might be an intervention from China. So really the fact that this person feels the need to oppose third world revolutions in particular, proves that there is something messed up in his outlook. This isn't to say that there aren't valid reasons to object to the FARC, because there are plenty of good non-eurocentric reasons to do so.

[La Guaneña]

That may be twisting their words a bit. They're saying a revolution there would crushed or choked out of existence by the US. Counterrevolution would be swift and deadly.
Of course, I'm not agreeing there should be no revolution in Columbia at all.

Well, there is a possibility of a big radicalization in Venezuela, and the PCP is also getting stronger right next door. No one is saying that Colombia alone could survive for too long, but saying that the FARC winning is doomed to fail is telling a lie.

The proletariat of every country must struggle against their own bourgeoise, and it seems that the colombian workers are doing pretty fine right now.

[Taters]

Well of course this is a possibility, but if there is a revolution in America then there might be an intervention from China. So really the fact that this person feels the need to oppose third world revolutions in particular, proves that there is something messed up in his outlook. This isn't to say that there aren't valid reasons to object to the FARC, because there are plenty of good non-eurocentric reasons to do so.

The fact is any third world revolution (if the nation(s) in question has something the first world wants) that would take place today will need outside (military) support, most likely from China. That's not euro-centrism, that's reality.

[MarxArchist]

What I'm saying is we shouldn't be gung ho about revolutions in nations where material conditions have set the stage for success to be almost impossible. This is why Venezuela was/is the way it is, as in, not a real Marxist state now or under Chavez (when he was alive). Venezuela would have been crushed if a Marxist state abolished capital. This was largely why the US started surrounding Venezuela with military bases. If Marxists seize state power in Columbia they will have very little economic support and NO military support which means more than likely capitalists would use a proxy force for counterrevolution which would have the full support of the global capitalist order. They would be crushed. Fascism would probably take hold (Pinochet/Franco). I'm sorry but this is the reality. Best they can do is follow what Chavez did and wait for workers in advanced nations to get our proverbial shit together.

[Captain Ahab]

Well a communist organization that controls 30% of a country is kinda a big deal, in comparison to some students getting uppity about tuition fees. Still I would like coverage of the student movement as a part of this thread, however I know that TGU is a bit overtaxed so if you are willing to provide some articles and devote yourself to giving us updates then go ahead.
By 30% do you mean actual control of land by the FARC or just areas where guerilla activity is extremely prevalent?

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

The fact is any third world revolution (if the nation(s) in question has something the first world wants) that would take place today will need outside (military) support, most likely from China. That's not euro-centrism, that's reality.


Advanced Europe is commanded by a bourgeoisie which supports everything that is backward. The Europe of our day is advanced not thanks to, but in spite of, the bourgeoisie, for it is only the proletariat that is adding to the million-strong army of fighters for a better future. It alone preserves and spreads implacable enmity towards backwardness, savagery, privilege, slavery and the humiliation of man by man.

Everywhere in Asia a mighty democratic movement is growing, spreading and gaining in strength. The bourgeoisie there is as yet siding with the people against reaction. Hundreds of millions of people are awakening to life, light and freedom. What delight this world movement is arousing in the hearts of all class-conscious workers, who know that the path to collectivism lies through democracy! What sympathy for young Asia imbues all honest democrats!

~Lenin


Due to the uneven development of international capitalism, it is unlikely that we'll ever see a simultaneous global revolution. However every country that falls out of imperialism's grasp weakens capitalism little by little and provides a base to support the working class in other areas of the world. So even if they are invaded, that means that imperialism will have another vietnam to deal with that will weaken their forces elsewhere, opening up the opportunity for revolution in other countries. So yes, we ought to support these revolutions where ever they are, and we, the proletariat, ought to "provide outside (military) support"

[La Guaneña]

What I'm saying is we shouldn't be gung ho about revolutions in nations where material conditions have set the stage for success to be almost impossible. This is why Venezuela was/is the way it is, as in, not a real Marxist state now or under Chavez (when he was alive). Venezuela would have been crushed if a Marxist state abolished capital. This was largely why the US started surrounding Venezuela with military bases. If Marxists seize state power in Columbia they will have very little economic support and NO military support which means more than likely capitalists would use a proxy force for counterrevolution which would have the full support of the global capitalist order. They would be crushed. Fascism would probably take hold (Pinochet/Franco). I'm sorry but this is the reality. Best they can do is follow what Chavez did and wait for workers in advanced nations to get our proverbial shit together.

Yeah, man. Especially seeing how history shows us that rich, developed countries are so good at having revolutions. Your defeatism is sad.

The destruction of the bourgeois State in Venezuela or Colombia right now would bring up the heat right in the USA's backyard in general, helping build a support base for local revolutions.

FARC PUT DOWN THE GUNS! WAIT A SEC, VENEZUELA!

[ind_com]

What I'm saying is we shouldn't be gung ho about revolutions in nations where material conditions have set the stage for success to be almost impossible. This is why Venezuela was/is the way it is, as in, not a real Marxist state now or under Chavez (when he was alive). Venezuela would have been crushed if a Marxist state abolished capital. This was largely why the US started surrounding Venezuela with military bases. If Marxists seize state power in Columbia they will have very little economic support and NO military support which means more than likely capitalists would use a proxy force for counterrevolution which would have the full support of the global capitalist order. They would be crushed. Fascism would probably take hold (Pinochet/Franco). I'm sorry but this is the reality. Best they can do is follow what Chavez did and wait for workers in advanced nations to get our proverbial shit together.

That is an example of reformism justified by a classic defeatist line. Venezuela was the way it was because Chavez was a communist-killing reformist right from the beginning. Imperialists have attacked all revolutionary communist movements so far, but that has never led to communists cowering down in front of an imperialist onslaught or the third world masses postponing the revolution in futile hope of a first world revolution. Groups like the FARC are already indirectly fighting imperialists and will take power the moment they can match imperialism technologically and organizationally.

[MarxArchist]

Due to the uneven development of international capitalism, it is unlikely that we'll ever see a simultaneous global revolution.

Of course not but at this point unless a nation has nuclear weapons, any revolution in isolation will be crushed. Even then, how did the cold war work out? Have we no sense of history?




However every country that falls out of imperialism's grasp weakens capitalism little by little and provides a base to support the working class in other areas of the world. So even if they are invaded, that means that imperialism will have another vietnam to deal with that will weaken their forces elsewhere, opening up the opportunity for revolution in other countries.

Vietnam had material support from larger Marxist states, nuclear powers. This was the cold war. Things are different now. I don't think the US would send a massive amount of troops they'd simply utilize the military bases in the region to train and supply whichever counterrevolutionary force they felt would topple the Marxist state the quickest. Lenin wasn't alive in 2013. He had NO IDEA what the global capitalist military would be capable of.



So yes, we ought to support these revolutions where ever they are, and we, the proletariat, ought to "provide outside (military) support"

As in, the Spanish Civil War? Again, what was the outcome? Franco in power (!) and that was even with the USSR supporting Spanish workers. What we ought to do is bring that militaristic spirit into building class consciousness in advanced capitalist nations.

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

That is an example of reformism justified by a classic defeatist line. Venezuela was the way it was because Chavez was a communist-killing reformist right from the beginning.

Colombia is no more or less Communist right now than Venezuela, and there's no indication that FARC or the ELN will topple their states in the short term.


Imperialists have attacked all revolutionary communist movements so far, but that has never led to communists cowering down in front of an imperialist onslaught or the third world masses postponing the revolution in futile hope of a first world revolution.The block of 4 classes in China is pretty much a Communist party postponing the economic revolution no more or less than Hugo Chavez. Now you have Maoists in places like Nepal all but abandoning economic revolution in the near term.


“... the people’s democratic dictatorship ... to deprive the reactionaries of the right to speak and let the people alone have that right. Who are the people? At the present stage in China they are the working class, the peasantry, the urban petit-bourgeoisie and the national bourgeoisie. These classes, led by the working class and the Communist Party, unite to form their own state and elect their own government; they enforce their dictatorship over the running dogs of imperialism – the landlord class and the bureaucratic-bourgeoisie, as well as the representatives of those classes, the Kuomintang reactionaries and their accomplices. ... Democracy (http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/d/e.htm#democracy) is practiced within the ranks of the people, who enjoy the rights (http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/r/i.htm#right) of freedom of speech, assembly, association and so on.” [On the People’s Democratic Dictatorship, Mao Zedong, March 1949] Also, as for confronting Imperialism at every corner...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Nixon_Mao_1972-02-29.png/300px-Nixon_Mao_1972-02-29.png

I guess he was giving Nixon a deathgrip?


Groups like the FARC are already indirectly fighting imperialists and will take power the moment they can match imperialism technologically and organizationally.:rolleyes: Communism doesn't get built because FARC gets 11 aircraft carriers and nuclear weapons. If the Communist movement in the 3rd world needs to match the US and other Imperialist powers "technologically and organizationally" then Communism will never get built.

I guess you're a Maoist so you have a very skewed perspective but no, Communism does not need to come from the barrel of a Guerrilla leader's gun, and even if it does, it's not going to be because Imperialism was matched but because of the instability of global capitalism and the inability of the USA and Europe to maintain an indefinite state of war (like in Vietnam) or the weakness of the local bourgeoisie.

FARC itself has all but given up on the guerrilla war against the Colombian state because it's kind of hard to win such a war when you are facing a modern military without some foreign government like that of the USSR or Cuba or China smuggling in weapons and financial support. Negotiations in Havana between FARC and the government have been going on for some time (perhaps because FARC knows that it's a cold day in hell that they, as you put it, "match imperialism technologically and organizationally.")

[MarxArchist]

Yeah, man. Especially seeing how history shows us that rich, developed countries are so good at having revolutions. Your defeatism is sad.

The destruction of the bourgeois State in Venezuela or Colombia right now would bring up the heat right in the USA's backyard in general, helping build a support base for local revolutions.

FARC PUT DOWN THE GUNS! WAIT A SEC, VENEZUELA!

You do realize you have a picture of Chavez as your avatar yes? Why do you think Chavez did not abolish capital in Venezuela? Why do you think the US surrounded Venezuela with bases? What sort of scenerio do you envision if FARC seizes state power and abolishes capital? I'm open to communism taking the globe any way it can but, well, lets hear how you think they could abolish capital and hold onto power with the full might of the capitalist order coming down on them. I guess the scenario you envision is people from all over the world would show up in Columbia and fight which would drive back the counterrevolution then socialist states would spread throughout South America and it would spark some sort of awakening in workers around the world which would eventually spread to advanced capitalist nations?

This is the thing with some Maoists and some "Lenininsts". Your theory of revolution is stuck in the early/mid 20'th century and not even so much as Marx knew an isolated non advanced nation (in this case less advanced) could not achieve socialism alone. This path all started with Russia and now some Marxists want to repeat that on a global scale in an era where wars are fought not on battlefields with men shooting at each other like WW1 but with drone strikes, helicopters, stealth planes and all manner of technology FARC or any communist's in less developed nations have. The US already has strong connections in Columbia and it would be an intel war.
The US military would have no need to occupy Columbia as Afghanistan or Iraq. They would use a proxy force much in the same way capitalists/NAZI's used Franco. A proxy force and reactionary intel to make drone strikes on communist leadership and troop movement. It would be a fucking slaughter without Russia or china providing military support - I'll ask again, do you think Russia and China are A communist and B willing to restart the cold war?

I think Columbia's best option, if they are to topple the current government, is to follow what Chavez did in Venezuela. If Marx were alive today I think he'd agree. His views on the Russian question were a tad complicated but Columbia in the 21'st century is a different ball of wax.

[Danny10]

You do realize you have a picture of Chavez as your avatar yes? Why do you think Chavez did not abolish capital in Venezuela? Why do you think the US surrounded Venezuela with bases? What sort of scenerio do you envision if FARC seizes state power and abolishes capital? I'm open to communism taking the globe any way it can but, well, lets hear how you think they could abolish capital and hold onto power with the full might of the capitalist order coming down on them. I guess the scenario you envision is people from all over the world would show up in Columbia and fight which would drive back the counterrevolution then socialist states would spread throughout South America and it would spark some sort of awakening in workers around the world which would eventually spread to advanced capitalist nations?

This is the thing with some Maoists and some "Lenininsts". Your theory of revolution is stuck in the early/mid 20'th century and not even so much as Marx knew an isolated non advanced nation (in this case less advanced) could not achieve socialism alone. This path all started with Russia and now some Marxists want to repeat that on a global scale in an era where wars are fought not on battlefields with men shooting at each other like WW1 but with drone strikes, helicopters, stealth planes and all manner of technology FARC or any communist's in less developed nations have. The US already has strong connections in Columbia and it would be an intel war.
The US military would have no need to occupy Columbia as Afghanistan or Iraq. They would use a proxy force much in the same way capitalists/NAZI's used Franco. A proxy force and reactionary intel to make drone strikes on communist leadership and troop movement. It would be a fucking slaughter without Russia or china providing military support - I'll ask again, do you think Russia and China are A communist and B willing to restart the cold war?

I think Columbia's best option, if they are to topple the current government, is to follow what Chavez did in Venezuela. If Marx were alive today I think he'd agree. His views on the Russian question were a tad complicated but Columbia in the 21'st century is a different ball of wax.


Hi comrades. Long time reader, first time poster.

Good post, MarxArchist.
But I don't think they can follow the Venezuelan model. The problem with building a Marxist (or even leftist) party which includes the cadres of the FARC and CCP were demonstrated clearly with the Unión Patriótica in the 80s. The party folded under the enormous onslaught of political violence directed against it by the police, military and state-sponsored paramilitaries and drug cartels. Scores of their candidates were assassinated.

Colombia is to all intents and purposes a military dictatorship where a few parties representing different sections of ruling class interest are permitted while all other political, social and trade union organisations are repressed. The repression takes the form of kidnapping, rape and murder of all urban and rural class orientated movements. Its fine to say that they should run for elections and forget the armed struggle, but I don't think the option is even open to them.

[MarxArchist]

Hi comrades. Long time reader, first time poster.

Good post, MarxArchist.
But I don't think they can follow the Venezuelan model. The problem with building a Marxist (or even leftist) party which includes the cadres of the FARC and CCP were demonstrated clearly with the Unión Patriótica in the 80s. The party folded under the enormous onslaught of political violence directed against it by the police, military and state-sponsored paramilitaries and drug cartels. Scores of their candidates were assassinated.

Colombia is to all intents and purposes a military dictatorship where a few parties representing different sections of ruling class interest are permitted while all other political, social and trade union organisations are repressed. The repression takes the form of kidnapping, rape and murder of all urban and rural class orientated movements. Its fine to say that they should run for elections and forget the armed struggle, but I don't think the option is even open to them.

I wasn't thinking they should put down their guns and try to win votes I was thinking they should seize state power and implement a sort of quasi socialism where they don't abolish capital. I know this sounds extremely unpalatable to a lot of communists but....

[Paul Pott]

You're advocating reformism.

Marx would not have supported Chavez because Chavez was a bourgeois politician who lead a capitalist state. Every state is the manager of the common affairs of the ruling class. Chavez had a base of support from part of Venezuelan capital just like every other reformist leader. In his case, the ruling class aligned with the Chavistas was at odds with the traditional comprador elite, whose interests dominated the country until the late 1990s and who have a firm grip on the private press, giving a false impression of opposition to Chavez by "the rich". This part of the ruling class tolerated broad concessions and working class organization in order to weaken its political foes.

In Colombia, the guerrilla armies such as FARC and ELN are peasant revolutionaries whose basis is the peasantry in some parts of the country. Their support among the working class is negligible. The alliance of the working class and the peasantry simply doesn't exist because the working class component isn't there. So we can say that these revolutions aren't going anywhere as it is, even if they make progressive demands. If they were to topple the American client state the result would not be a dictatorship of the proletariat any more than in Venezuela.

[MarxArchist]

You're advocating reformism.



I'm advocating strategic global revolution in lieu of proverbial crash test dummies driving 150 mph into a brick wall. Even if they somehow succeeded in the long term what sort of society do you think a Colombian Marxist state would have to create in order to hold onto power? Material conditions won't allow socialism proper in Columbia. Why attempt it?

[Paul Pott]

The flaw in your thinking is the assumption that a revolution would happen in Colombia and only Colombia. It would almost certainly be part of a regional, or even global wave. Even if it did, it would be an example to the working class in the rest of Latin America.

It's true that Colombia by itself cannot build socialism, but the working class can seize state power.

[La Guaneña]

You do realize you have a picture of Chavez as your avatar yes? Why do you think Chavez did not abolish capital in Venezuela? Why do you think the US surrounded Venezuela with bases? What sort of scenerio do you envision if FARC seizes state power and abolishes capital?

Chavez did not overcome capitalist relations simply because it was not possible. The Venezuelan working class was not nearly as prepared and conscious at it is now, and we can't forget Chavez was working inside the bourgeois state.

The destrucion of the Venezuelan bourgeois state is actually a necessity to keep advancing the bolivarian process, in my point of view. Stagnation would mean death in face of US imperialism.




I'm open to communism taking the globe any way it can but, well, lets hear how you think they could abolish capital and hold onto power with the full might of the capitalist order coming down on them. I guess the scenario you envision is people from all over the world would show up in Columbia and fight which would drive back the counterrevolution then socialist states would spread throughout South America and it would spark some sort of awakening in workers around the world which would eventually spread to advanced capitalist nations?

Well, the revolution has to start somewhere. There were some people who had some rhetoric very similar to yours back in 1917 about how Russia wasn't ready for revolution. You have to agree that the Russian Revolution literally "shook the world" for some good 50 years to come, right?

I don't expect the working class in Colombia to take power and hold it there and being able to hold it by themselves for a long time. But you also can't expect for a proletarian revolution not to stir up shit in a region as hot as that part of Latin America is right now. A revolution in Colombia would heat up things at least in Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia and maybe Equador.



This is the thing with some Maoists and some "Lenininsts". Your theory of revolution is stuck in the early/mid 20'th century and not even so much as Marx knew an isolated non advanced nation (in this case less advanced) could not achieve socialism alone. This path all started with Russia and now some Marxists want to repeat that on a global scale in an era where wars are fought not on battlefields with men shooting at each other like WW1 but with drone strikes, helicopters, stealth planes and all manner of technology FARC or any communist's in less developed nations have. The US already has strong connections in Columbia and it would be an intel war.
The US military would have no need to occupy Columbia as Afghanistan or Iraq. They would use a proxy force much in the same way capitalists/NAZI's used Franco. A proxy force and reactionary intel to make drone strikes on communist leadership and troop movement. It would be a fucking slaughter without Russia or china providing military support - I'll ask again, do you think Russia and China are A communist and B willing to restart the cold war?

Counter revolution is already strong in Latin America since the Years of Lead. Clearly some comrades from Europe and the USA think that operation Condor was something like McCarthy. Well, McCarthy was a walk in the park compared to what happened in Argentina, Chile, Brasil, Bolívia, Nicarágua e El Salvador, and the reminants of those operations still exist.

Keeping an active Party in many places of Latin America, or even having a stable, democratic popular government means keeping an armed force connected to the organizations, hence Chaves' militias and PCP's armed front.

Those proxy forces are already crushing the Latin American communists, and stagnation literally means death, not only for the movement, but also for the cadres of the parties. Asking for a halt in the growth and agressiveness of the communists is ridiculous, comrade.


I think Columbia's best option, if they are to topple the current government, is to follow what Chavez did in Venezuela. If Marx were alive today I think he'd agree. His views on the Russian question were a tad complicated but Columbia in the 21'st century is a different ball of wax.

Yeah, that whole democracy thing isn't going very well in Colombia, especially with elections as rigged as they are.

An anti-imperialist struggle in Latin America necessarily means fighting capitalism head on at some point. What you are proposing is some way of fighting capitalism while evading US imperialism, and fightin one without facing the other is impossible.

[La Guaneña]

I'm advocating strategic global revolution in lieu of proverbial crash test dummies driving 150 mph into a brick wall. Even if they somehow succeeded in the long term what sort of society do you think a Colombian Marxist state would have to create in order to hold onto power? Material conditions won't allow socialism proper in Columbia. Why attempt it?

So you are only in favour of a revolution if it "strategically" happens globally at once?

[Gorra Negra]

Well a communist organization that controls 30% of a country is kinda a big deal, in comparison to some students getting uppity about tuition fees. Still I would like coverage of the student movement as a part of this thread, however I know that TGU is a bit overtaxed so if you are willing to provide some articles and devote yourself to giving us updates then go ahead.

right...

[Paul Pott]

It's probably not that much anymore, and "control" is a strong word here in any case.

[AConfusedSocialDemocrat]

Heh, a friend told me that there was a FARC bombing of her street once. Happened whilst we were chatting on msn, shit was cash.

[Gorra Negra]

The time for FARC to take over the country are long gone. Even at their top they were only able to take over a very small, isolated town (under 25,000) for about half a week and this was more than a decade ago were their numbers were much larger.

Does FARC have a presence in a lot parts of the country? yes they do and where are they the strongest? well it really relegates to isolated, rural and under developed areas. But i believe one thing is to "control" another thing is to have a presence. I think comrade is confused when he says "they control 30% of the country". This is very misleading, specially in a country that is very much urban.

I think one of the major problems in Colombia and how it differs from Venezuela is that the left is generally pretty weak, it is weak because as another comrade mentioned above, the left has been under serious repression for some decades now. A whole generation of leftist were assassinated during the eighties and a good part of the nineties. The student movement, loyal to Colombia's history, has remained strong and they tend to involve other movements i.e the indigenous communities, the health care workers union, teachers union etc.. They are also helping create a consciousness around imperialism within Colombia and abroad i.e Palestinian struggle.

So i wouldn't simply dismiss them so casually, i happen to believe their situation is more relevant than the FARC rehash which seems to give a lot of people here a hard on to the point they start spitting some fantasy scenario that is simply not the case.

[--Navarro--]

Yeah, that whole democracy thing isn't going very well in Colombia, especially with elections as rigged as they are.


"Rigged"?, you say so because...?

Have you ever been to the country, or do you know what you are talking about, at all?


Btw, as Gorra Negra said, Farc not only don't have control over 30% of the territory, they aren't even able to take control over a town over 1000 inhabitants in a non-remote area of the country. And I would say, not even that.

[La Guaneña]

"Rigged"?, you say so because...?

Have you ever been to the country, or do you know what you are talking about, at all?

Rigged was a very poor choice in words, I apologize.

I am reffering to the paramilitary repression on social movements and direct US intervention in mainstream politics.

I have never been to Colombia, but friends involved in organizing with rural populations tell no great tales of democracy and freedom.

Edit: By rigged I also meant to reffer to the irregularities that the OEA found in the past elections, but I still feel I used harsh wording for the situation.

[MarxArchist]

So you are only in favour of a revolution if it "strategically" happens globally at once?

No I'm in favor of revolutions happening in nations that can actually defend themselves. Right now that would be a nuclear power (Russia/China/India/England/France etc.....) anything less will be crushed by the capitalists military cartel which is made up of countless nations military and resources. If these small less developed nations have communist revolutions without support from a major superpower they're doomed. It's just a material fact. You have absolutely no grasp of history and or the capability of the capitalists to implement "containment". They'll firebomb entire populations if they think the global capitalist order is in danger. They'll slaughter millions and millions of people without batting an eye. Smaller less developed nations, without military/economic support from a major superpower, are not in any position to be facilitating communist revolutions.

[La Guaneña]

No I'm in favor of revolutions happening in nations that can actually defend themselves. Right now that would be a nuclear power (Russia/China/India/England/France etc.....) anything less will be crushed by the capitalists military cartel which is made up of countless nations military and resources. If these small less developed nations have communist revolutions without support from a major superpower they're doomed. It's just a material fact. You have absolutely no grasp of history and or the capability of the capitalists to implement "containment". They'll firebomb entire populations if they think the global capitalist order is in danger. They'll slaughter millions and millions of people without batting an eye. Smaller less developed nations, without military/economic support from a major superpower, are not in any position to be facilitating communist revolutions.

So if the oppurtunity for the working class to take power is very open in, say, Greece, Venezuela or Colombia, reaching an exponential intensification in class struggle, what should the communists of these countries do? What should the workers do?

[MarxArchist]

So if the oppurtunity for the working class to take power is very open in, say, Greece, Venezuela or Colombia, reaching an exponential intensification in class struggle, what should the communists of these countries do? What should the workers do?
Greece, being a member of the EU, is more complicated. Places like Venezuela, Columbia etc as history shows, will be subject to multi nation/coalition invasion (see Granada).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Grenada

The way the US and it's ally/proxy states treated communism in South America during the cold war, now with China/Russia being capitalist, is pretty much assured treatment around the globe (see Vietnam war and Korean war for larger scale efforts with exterior communist support). Africa, South America, definitely the Middle East and so on. There's no more defense against the bully. No more Russia/China to stop counterrevolution. The battle for socialism needs to take place within the superpower nations. Not just in the west but India, China, Russia, perhaps all of Western Europe and the USA. Western Europe smaller nations is more complicated though. If indeed enough workers in western Europe were facilitating socialist revolutions that would indeed have the potential to spread to the more advanced/larger nations or as a capitalist would say "infect" Britain/France/USA etc. Racism is also a factor. Would the US support full on military invasion of, lets say, Denmark or Finland? The capitalists use racism to their advantage, we should use it to their disadvantage.

Why do you think the US has placed military bases all throughout the world? Especially in South America and Africa? They all but surrounded Chavez and 'dared' him to abolish capital. The US didn't let socialism spread during the cold war in it's "own back yard" what makes you think they'll let it spread now? You have to realize every single war post WW2 was fought by the US/NATO to "stop the spread of communism" and this was with Russia/China backing socialist states.

What would Greece do? I'm not sure NATO would invade/occupy Greece if a socialist government took power seeing the racist nature of the world and it being the cultural foundation for western values at the same time most workers would probably support a socialist revolution under the current conditions. They may actually leave Greece alone but capitalism itself is creating conditions in Greece that has radicalized workers. If the global crisis hit the US as bad as it did Greece I think we'd see a lot more than the toothless Occupy Wall St.

Greece having a socialist revolution would largely remain symbolic though. They would be economically cut off from trade and would be unable to sustain themselves as an island of socialism and capitalists would point to Greece as another "failure" of "socialism". If they were sitting on massive oil reserves, a huge amount of resources and land then they'd have a shot of holding on for a while but this is a scenario any smaller nation would have to face. If no racist/propaganda based military intervention than total economic isolation. How is that to work? Russia was a totally different situation and it can be argued things turned out the way they did because there were no revolutions in more advanced nations. Have we learned nothing from history? History. Why did workers in larger more advanced capitalist nations leave Russia hanging so to speak? What is it going to take to radicalize workers in the larger superpower nations? Right now China's state is suppressing workers. Workers in the USA? Workers in Britain? France? Are the material conditions in advanced capitalist nations ripe for revolution? Perhaps in Greece. I personally think capitalism will have to decay further before we see mass resistance in the larger superpower nations. The capitalists know what they're doing. They know what they have to try to do in order to keep the global system functioning and workers within the western more advanced nations, within China, within Russia and within India are key and they know it. As is keeping South America in the capitalist fold.

It's all a mess. One giant game of strategy and right now it's a game being played between David and Goliath.

[MarxArchist]

Hi comrades. Long time reader, first time poster.

Good post, MarxArchist.
But I don't think they can follow the Venezuelan model. The problem with building a Marxist (or even leftist) party which includes the cadres of the FARC and CCP were demonstrated clearly with the Unión Patriótica in the 80s. The party folded under the enormous onslaught of political violence directed against it by the police, military and state-sponsored paramilitaries and drug cartels. Scores of their candidates were assassinated.

Colombia is to all intents and purposes a military dictatorship where a few parties representing different sections of ruling class interest are permitted while all other political, social and trade union organisations are repressed. The repression takes the form of kidnapping, rape and murder of all urban and rural class orientated movements. Its fine to say that they should run for elections and forget the armed struggle, but I don't think the option is even open to them.

I was speaking as to what they would do after the old regime is out. Abolishing capital and setting up a full on socialist state would bring the full might of the capitalist order down upon them and if it didn't they'd be economically isolated. I wasn't implying people should put up with fascist like conditions I'm speaking about gaining power and what to do after power is gained. If power is gained via elections or via violence isn't what I'm addressing. When I said I am indeed advocating a sort of "reformism" in Columbia I was addressing my point that installing a full on socialist state will fail.

[RedSonRising]

If there's any hope for a a revolutionary politicization of the people developing in Colombia, it lies in the workers' unions, dissident students, and indigenous activists.

[RedSonRising]

There are many topics of discussion to be had about this phenomenon, if the mods would kindly merge other threads into this one (assuming everyone thinks it's a good idea), I would appreciate it.

The main thrust of these protests is the fallout between the farmers and agricultural workers of rural Colombia and the government over the Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Specifically, farmers are protesting over the criminalization of non-Monsanto seeds being used for produce.

This leaflet says that the law now includes incarceration sentences up to 4-8 years, among other hefty fines, and uses a wanted poster after "the Colombian farmer" for using natural seeds to avoid ingesting toxins and being able to grow food in that climate.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n571/Bogotazo/colombiaparo_zpsf9ee7c81.jpg

Other concerns are the conditions of poverty which many farmers face, particularly coffee, potato, and dairy farmers, largely in part to low-price importation from industrial nations. This banner reads "580.000 face misery (poverty), they produce the coffee that you're drinking."

https://sphotos-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/581552_587869684613770_1182778849_n.jpg

The principal form of protest that the farmers have been using is road blockages, using trucks and stones to block the highways from the capital, Bogota, to rural regions such as Boyaca, as you can see here:

eVG0drOpukY

As far as I know, nobody has been killed, but there have been clashes between protesters and police:

mUcCzT5Bt7k
gBKVKgKOny4

In addition, many students and activist labor unions joined the protests over low wage rates and the neglect of Public University Campuses (which prompted the previous shut down of key universities in opposition to privatization bills just about a year ago.)

_0es2IOwdPQ

This is a beautiful show of resistance from various sectors of the Colombian working class. In recent decades, any show of resistance from the populace was swept up into the dichotomous narrative of the armed conflict, where the state would repress and coerce dissidents on the basis that they were cooperating with guerrilla groups and drug cartels, and many times, groups like the FARC would attempt to co-opt or compete with parallel forms of resistance in rural areas. This show of force from students, unions, and farmers standing up to destructive imperialist policies and the injustices of capitalism sends the message to the rest of the country that resistance is not an abstract or inherently violent phenomenon, but a path towards social and economic justice. I hope that these groups continue to build networks of power and work to defeat the continued commodification of Colombian land and labor.

[RedSonRising]

Mods, I tried posting these two images in the opening post, and they seem to refuse to appear. Any help please?

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n571/Bogotazo/colombiaparo_zpsf9ee7c81.jpg

https://sphotos-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/581552_587869684613770_1182778849_n.jpg

[MarxSchmarx]

Not sure what's going on, i tried it and it didn't work for me eiither. See if shrinking them would help.

[RedSonRising]

Update: I heard on Colombian radio this morning that tomorrow, the federation of educators in Colombia are going to participate in a national strike. There will be no schools open starting tomorrow. More details soon.

[RedSonRising]

One big step towards justice for farmers in Colombia!

(Video Inside)

------
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10722

http://therealnews.com/media/trn_2013-09-01/OLeon0913ColombiaStrike-240.jpg

OSCAR LEÓN, TRNN PRODUCER: In Colombia after 21 days of a nationwide strike by thousands of farmers, who were supported by bus and truck drivers, miners, students, and others joining massive demonstrations in cities and towns all around the country in places as far as Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Huila, Putumayo, Caldas, Cundinamarca, and Nariño, and blocking more than 40 roads, in an historic moment, protesting farmers forced the Colombian government to negotiate the rejection of a farm bill and the release of detained protesters.

On Sunday, September 8, Vice President Angelino Garzón met with the Strike Negotiating Commission in Popayan and agreed to suspend Law 970, the one that gave control over seeds to the government. They also were promised the release of the 648 arrested during the strike and the creation of a new mining law.

Under this first and provisional agreement, the government will compensate the farmers for their losses when competing with cheaper products imported under as much as ten free market treaties with countries all around the world. In other cases it will suspend the importation of such products.

The strike was ended and negotiations started to discuss the farmers' proposals. The process of negotiation, as well as the final agreement and its implementation, will be verified by the United Nations.

In Putumayo in the south of the country, farmers leaders and other actors of Colombian society met with President Santos and other authorities and officially started the negotiations after signing the initial document.

The destruction of the farmers' rice stock seeds, seeds they were keeping for the following year's planting time, occurred in Campo Alegre and other towns in 2012. For some these images became the symbol of the farmers' strike fighting for the right to keep their seeds. Seed control was described by President Santos as having Colombia "tune up to international reality".

Having the Law 970 suspended is a partial yet symbolic victory for Colombia's social movement. Not only they got the seed control suspended, but most importantly, they got the Government to recognize their leadership, the Mesa de interlocución agraria, Agricultural Dialogue Table, which was elected by the the Coalition of Colombia's Social and Political Movements to negotiatie with the government when they were organizing the strike.

The press reported a number attempts by the government to negotiate and extract concessions with various farmer groups. But 13 regions where still on strike, and the government was forced to finally sit down on the farmers' table and negotiate.

This is a profound contrast with Colombia's recent past. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have documented attacks on Colombian farmers and union leaders, who have been kidnapped, tortured, and massacred by paramilitary forces, and sometimes even by the army, according to a number of reports published by Amnesty International.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR23/038/2013/en
Index Number: AMR 23/035/2013
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR23/035/2013/en/ab9d3e3a-ccac-401d-99d8-dc3855a7247b/amr230352013en.pdf

One of the towns that initiated the social strife was El Catatumbo, in Tibu, north of Santander in the northwest of Colombia, where local farmers resisted 51 days in street battles like this one in the video.

El Catatumbo's fight inspired thousand of other farmers who "lost their fear", and about a month after that, they started a nationwide farmers strike, a strike that 21 days after it began, managed to force the government to suspend law 970 and at least study their other proposals.

To push a resumption of negotiations, the strikers opened the roads they had blockaded. The negotiations are ongoing, and they have to decide over more structural issues.

These are some of their petitions:

• To set the prices for agricultural products independently of the international market, and to set a fund to cover the difference so local farmers can get a fair price and the government can guarantee their crops;

• A reduction in the price of gas and diesel, road tolls, and reduction on the price of fertilizers and other supplies;

• Cancellation of the current agricultural policy, including the control of seeds, but also other policies not favorable to small and medium farms;

• To stop the importation of many products, but most importantly to suspend and review the free trade agreements with United States, European Union, China, and other countries;

• Pardon for small and medium farmers' debts, and the adoption of "softer credit" for farmers via public banks;

• To stop and reverse the sale of public lands to international owners, and give them back to local farmers.

The mining sector also pledged to the strike and even incorporated its demands, some of which are:

• The participation of traditional and small mining operators when setting policy that regulates the industry;

• To stop and even revert some mining concessions and public contracts until it's determined if the local communities are affected, if the resources generated in the mines benefit them, and if local small operations are allowed to work as well.

MINER (SUBTITLED TRANSL.): In my town, the big open mines will destroy a way of life we've had for 500 years. This fills our hearts with sorrow, because we have historically fought for those lands, for the tradition of artisanal mining.

LEÓN: For the population in general, they demand investment on rural populations and cities to get access to education, health care, public services, and affordable housing. Many of these demands go against the core of the neoliberal policies adopted by previous Colombian administrations.
The strike represented a broader segment of population than first thought. What started as a farmers and miners strike very soon turned into a general strike, with bus drivers, truckers, students, and even general population in the streets claiming for their own demands.
Street battles of all kinds took place, like this one in Bosa, La Libertad, a neighborhood outside Bogotá, where many protesters attempted to take a police station by storm.

The strike organization reported 660 human rights violations that were documented. The police brutality and the negative by president to recognize the farmers' leadership, as well as the dire economic situation Colombians live every day, with a minimum salary of $291 and a gas price of $4.6 a gallon. All of this created a sort of perfect storm that exploded in August.

Police reported 648 arrested. The farmers' organization claimed 262 of them were illegally detained. There was 485 wounded and 12 dead on a week marked by protest. And while Santos put up a political fight, at the end of the day, after his popularity went down to an all time record low of 21 percent, his government was forced to admit that it needed to recognize and negotiate with the national strike's leaders.

We are yet to see if the Santos Administration will concede any more of the farmers demands, especially the more structural ones.

[RedSonRising]

Indigenous protesters holding captive 7 members of security forces


http://colombiareports.co/indigenous-protesters-holding-captive-7-uniformed-officials/

http://colombiareports.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/indigenous_protest_f_routers.jpg

Indigenous protesters taking part in a national strike have captured seven members of Colombia’s security forces, who are being held in two separate locations in Colombia, according to a statement by local authorities on Friday.

The government Ombudsman in the western state of Risaralda, Freddy Plaza, says that six of those taken by the indigenous protestors – five uniformed police officers and a reserve soldier - were being held in the municipality of Belen de Umbria.

In addition to calling for the release of the captured government officials in a public address, Plaza pressed protesters to lift roadblocks causing backed-up traffic on highways in the state.

Roadblocks also continued on the Pan-American highway in the southwestern state of Cauca, where protesters were holding a member of the riot police captive. Protesters were also blocking roads in the northern state of Sucre.

The reports of captured government officials comes after Colombian indigenous rights group ONIC condemned on Thursday what they considered excessive police response to protests that left 19 wounded and four arrested during a protest in the Pacific port of Buenaventura, where there is a high concentration of Afro-Colombians
---


(There's a cool map of the current national roadblocks and a link to another article about police repression of the indigenous)

[adipocere]

Colombia agrees Farc political participation (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24842432)



http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/70953000/jpg/_70953855_70953705.jpg The Farc leader Marcos Calarca spoke at the press conference held in Cuba



Colombian Farc rebel leaders and government negotiators have agreed on a political future for the left-wing group should a peace deal be reached.
At the ongoing talks in Cuba, both sides agreed on guarantees, conditions and support for the creation of new political parties.
Colombia's largest rebel group and the government are yet to discuss another four items on the agenda.
The peace talks aim to end nearly 50 years of armed conflict.
Some 220,000 people have died in the violence, according to a study by Colombia's National Centre for Historical Memory.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
'Thorniest issue' Wednesday's announcement was made in the Cuban capital, Havana, where the Colombian government and the rebels have held negotiating sessions since last November.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24842432#story_continues_2) Six points on peace agenda


Land reform
Political participation
Disarmament
Illicit drugs
Rights of the victims
Peace deal implementation



Q&A: Colombia peace talks (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19875363)


Colombia's chief government negotiator said it would provide a "new democratic opening".
"Never again politics and weapons together," Humberto de la Calle said.
Farc leader Ivan Marquez called it "an important step in the right direction to end the conflict and to achieve a real democracy in Colombia".
The peace agenda has six major points: land reform, political participation, disarmament, illicit drugs, rights of the victims and peace deal implementation.
They had already partially agreed on land reform.
The rebels' political participation is widely considered to be one of the thorniest issues on the agenda so this latest announcement will give the process a much-needed boost, says the BBC's Arturo Wallace in Bogota.
There are still important details to be clarified, including the key question of whether some members of Farc can be barred from participating in politics because of human rights abuses or crimes against humanity.
But this is something that will be addressed in the near future, when the parties start discussing the reparation of the victims of the conflict, our correspondent says.
The government estimates there are just 7,800 active Farc rebels, with approximately another 10,000 people on the margins of the group.