Colombia's growing labor struggle

[Le Socialiste]

Looks like something comrades should keep an eye on. Admittedly I'm not terribly familiar with the labor situation in Colombia, but it does seem like a step in the right direction. Perhaps posters more familiar with the specifics could chime in?


THREE OF Colombia's most powerful unions will take action on Monday and Tuesday, August 19 and 20, as the spreading anger against the Colombian government reaches a new stage.

Unions for coffee growers, truck drivers and miners are planning to participate in walkouts, protests and other actions that are set to begin on August 19, with other important organizations and forces from Colombian society also participating in this display of discontent across Colombia.

There is widespread bitterness with the Colombian government as a product of the deteriorating economic situation, the poor state of the country's health care system, and the government's push for free trade deals, such as the one recently negotiated with South Korea. This anger, combined with an uprising for autonomy in Catatumbo, along the country's eastern border with Venezuela, has united different fragmented struggles into an organized resistance against President Juan Manuel Santos, who is in the last year of his first term.

All of this is occurring against the backdrop of an ongoing peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. With the Colombian government losing public support, Santos will have a hard time laying the groundwork for his re-election in the coming year.

As SocialistWorker.org has reported previously (here (http://socialistworker.org/2013/03/05/three-strikes-roil-colombia), here (http://socialistworker.org/2013/03/04/colombia-cafeteros-take-a-stand) and here (http://socialistworker.org/2013/07/05/the-uprising-in-catatumbo)), strikes and struggles that began with Colombian miners (both large-scale and small-scale), truck drivers (the Truckers Association of Colombia, known by its acronym ACC) and coffee growers (FEDECAFE) have spread to other sectors of the Colombian agricultural industry (rice growers, dairy workers and bakery workers, to name a few), the health care industry and teachers. The Colombian student movement, led by the Broad National Council of Students, or MANE, is pledging to support the mobilization.

As happened during the coffee growers and truck drivers' strikes earlier this year, when many roads were blockaded by workers and farmers, the agricultural unions are pledging to take to the roads as well. Plus, truck drivers are promising to protest on major routes. This means transportation will be at a standstill in many sections of the country, and important agro-industrial centers will be cut off from shipping goods and making profits--hopefully putting more pressure on the government to engage in talks with leaders of the national strike call.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

AND WHAT has been the response of the Colombian government? Until recently, Santos was silent on the national strike call, leaving it to his Vice President Angelino Garzón comment on the matter.

As the day of the strike call approached, however, Santos has boldly attacked the planned days of protest, threatening legal action against public-sector workers nd mobilizing state security forces. According to Santos, the National Police will deploy 16,000 extra units around the country to "maintain order."

Besides these threats, Santos has reiterated the claim typically made by Colombian rulers that social protests are being infiltrated and incited by guerrilla groups as a way to pressure the government during its peace negotiations with the FARC. The president says he will refuse to engage in talks with leaders of the emerging struggles or reopen negotiations that have since broken down with unions that pledged to participate in the strike call.

No one knows if Santos' threats will have the effect of reducing the mobilization for the days of protest. Meanwhile, right-wing paramilitaries in the north of the country have been distributing pamphlets in which they threaten to kill anybody who supports the strike.

The deteriorating economic situation for the majority of the Colombian population and the incompetence of Santos's government is pushing onto the political stage a third force with the capacity to break into a political discourse that has historically been confined to the government and armed rebel groups. That Santos is issuing such harsh threats and promising a show of force shows that the elite will do whatever it can to keep the discussion contained to the government vs. the guerrillas. Until social movements independent of these forces can exert enough pressure, the Colombian working population will continue to be disregarded.

The August 19 national strike could be a major step forward in the development of a third social force in Colombian society--the organized working class. How far it is successful in challenging the status quo depends on whether this growing force can continue its resistance. While some unions and organizations have promised 48 hours of mobilizations, others have not said when their mobilization will end.

http://socialistworker.org/2013/08/19/colombias-growing-labor-struggle

[tuwix]

Looks like something comrades should keep an eye on. Admittedly I'm not terribly familiar with the labor situation in Colombia, but it does seem like a step in the right direction. Perhaps posters more familiar with the specifics could chime in?


Well, Colombia is still on civil war. The Government's Oponent is FARC (Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Its name is very similiar to the name of Cuban army. But In Cuba there peace talks between government and the FARC. But even now almost all decent left movements are treated as part of conflict, although cirumstances get better sue to those talks. A few years ago, unionists and farmers were jus killed and those homicides were justified by influence of the FARC regardless it really was or not. Now the climate of changes causes an encouragement of unions' activities. There are agricultural protests in Comlombia too. The government can't just shoot all them out as it happened a few yers ago because it makes them unreliable in he pease talks. And it seems that the president Santos care to make those talks succesful.

[--Navarro--]

The government can't just shoot all them out as it happened a few yers ago because it makes them unreliable in he pease talks.

When did that happened?

So, in Colombia, when there's no peace talks, the Government is free to shoot peasants by hundreds?

[Zergling]

The Colombian government doesn't care. Never has never will care about the people in the rural districts, especially in the South. Union leaders aren't killed as often as they used to be, but they are still killed in large numbers. They just send in the paramilitaries (they still exist despite what people say) to do the dirty work whenever the workers get too rowdy. The only way change is going to happen is when Colombia stops getting its paycheck from the United States to be this way.

[blake 3:17]

This is big. For many years Colombia was the single most dangerous country to be a trade unionist. There have been years where at least one trade union leader murdered a week.

[tuwix]

When did that happened?

So, in Colombia, when there's no peace talks, the Government is free to shoot peasants by hundreds?

Actually, talks are suspended. I was pretty suprised that they went so far.
And yes, the government is free to kill peasants by hundreds. It is only their decision will they walk into the peace or continue a war. In the past it was very easy to call every protester a FARC agent.

[--Navarro--]

Actually, talks are suspended. I was pretty suprised that they went so far.

No, 2 days after that, they were retaken. I'm sorry for you.

What you said about government shooting protesters before the peace talks started never happened. At least not in the recent history of the country.

[Gorra Negra]

The MANE, is having a march tomorrow. not really knowing if they are going on strike or not.

other sectors have announced more strikes for next month.
The reason the left in Colombia is so weak is because in the last three decades the state has been brutally repressive, murdering at least 4,000 leftist during peace talks in the 80's.
the left has been uprooted by straight up violence. This is something the State, in its peace talks needs to acknowledge, but it won't happen.

[tuwix]

No, 2 days after that, they were retaken. I'm sorry for you.


There no need for that. My news about the case wasn't updated that time.



What you said about government shooting protesters before the peace talks started never happened. At least not in the recent history of the country.

Then you don't know the history of this country. Because who are FARC? They are some sort of protesters against the status quo in Colombia. But the strategy of their protest is war. And they are killed ast it in war happens. Furthermore, There are killede hunreds of peasants that have nothing to do with them. The so-calles false positives are the best axamples of that.

[--Navarro--]

Then you don't know the history of this country.

"this"? do you live in Colombia? I do, I've been doing so since I was born 26 years ago.



Because who are FARC? They are some sort of protesters against the status quo in Colombia. that's very far from the truth. Farc fight is not even ideological anymore. maybe for a few of them, some leaders (not all of them) and some "milicianos". the rest (the majority of them) are fighting for many other reasons (because they are forced to, because they make a living with that, etc)



Furthermore, There are killede hunreds of peasants that have nothing to do with them. The so-calles false positives are the best axamples of that.yes but you said that, in the past, the government shoot protesters and farmers whenever they wanted to, and blamed it on their fight against Farc. which is not true, very few people were killed during public protests in the last 20 years in the country, and, for Colombian justice, the Farc thing wasn't an excuse, and the responsibles were prosecuted and punished in many cases.

[Paul Pott]

"FARC doesn't care about ideology anymore" is the standard line of the Colombian media.

Of course their demands in the recent peace talks show that to be nonsense.

[tuwix]

Farc fight is not even ideological anymore.


As Paul Pott noticed above such phrases are just bourgeois propaganda.




yes but you said that, in the past, the government shoot protesters and farmers whenever they wanted to, and blamed it on their fight against Farc. which is not true, very few people were killed during public protests in the last 20 years in the country, and, for Colombian justice, the Farc thing wasn't an excuse, and the responsibles were prosecuted and punished in many cases.

Or killed by soldiers as supposed members of FARC. Yes, FARC was and is very good excuse for killing people in Colombia. In present days, there is blame for protesters they are FARC agents in mass media of Colombia and there were deaths of protesters in fights with state forces.

[--Navarro--]

"FARC doesn't care about ideology anymore" is the standard line of the Colombian media.

Of course their demands in the recent peace talks show that to be nonsense.

I found quite naive and prefabricated what you say. Colombia is a country of 47 million people. Colombian media is extremely diverse, there is no "standard line" in Colombian media. "Colombian media", "bourgeois propaganda", "the Colombian elite", so many concepts that don't explain anything at all, used by people that has never been to the country, nor does care about the situation in the country, who only actually care about distorting reality to fit their dogmas.



Of course their demands in the recent peace talks show that to be nonsense.the ones negotiating are politicized, as I said (read more carefully). the average Farc figther, is not. and that's something I know from first hand, not because evil Colombian media told me so.


there is blame for protesters they are FARC agents in mass media of Colombia

not true, most of the media has acknowleged the legitimity of protests.



and there were deaths of protesters in fights with state forces.in most cases, because some of them shot against police forces (there were several dead policeman too). in the others, responsability of police forces wasn't proven.

[Comrade Jacob]

Let's hope FARC doesn't throw down their arms in their current peace-talks, if it should come to that I hope the NLA steps their work up more and grows.

[--Navarro--]

Let's hope FARC doesn't throw down their arms in their current peace-talks

it would be suicide for them not to do so, without a doubt.



if it should come to that I hope the NLA steps their work up more and grows.very very unlikely to happen. they have never been so few in arms. and they have been seeking repeatedly for peace talks in the past months.

which is very good news for all the children they recruited by force and sent to die, the women they recruited and abused, the rural people vulnerable to the landmines they planted indiscriminately, etc. and for the national natural parks they destroy with their criminal activities.

but I guess it's not so good for clueless, idealistic, dogmatic foreigners.

[tuwix]

I found quite naive and prefabricated what you say. Colombia is a country of 47 million people. Colombian media is extremely diverse, there is no "standard line" in Colombian media. "Colombian media", "bourgeois propaganda", "the Colombian elite", so many concepts that don't explain anything at all, used by people that has never been to the country, nor does care about the situation in the country, who only actually care about distorting reality to fit their dogmas.



It seems you really don't know how media in capitalist country work. The deiversity is only mask hiding they're just bourgeois propaganda.



the ones negotiating are politicized, as I said (read more carefully). the average Farc figther, is not.


But that whether the war will be continued or not is dependent on the one who negotiate and not on the ones imagined by bourgeois media.



most of the media has acknowleged the legitimity of protests.


And that they're in part FARC agents too. And it is justification to smash protests out by all means necessary. And governemnt only decide to talk or to kill.




in most cases, because some of them shot against police forces (there were several dead policeman too). in the others, responsability of police forces wasn't proven.


According to the version released by government and bourgeois media only... But the fact is that police forces got an order to finish protest. Certainly, before that there were acusations that protesters were FARC agents. Typical for Colombian class struggle..

[Paul Pott]

I found quite naive and prefabricated what you say. Colombia is a country of 47 million people. Colombian media is extremely diverse, there is no "standard line" in Colombian media. "Colombian media", "bourgeois propaganda", "the Colombian elite", so many concepts that don't explain anything at all, used by people that has never been to the country, nor does care about the situation in the country, who only actually care about distorting reality to fit their dogmas.

You could say the same of the US, or Russia, or anywhere else where the media aligns itself with "national interests". That there are alternate media somewhere is irrelevant. How do you know I have not been to Colombia? I might as well call you a liar and deny that you have even been there. Not that it would matter.

From this paragraph it's becoming apparent that you are a liberal who has nothing to offer to this discussion.


the ones negotiating are politicized, as I said (read more carefully). the average Farc figther, is not. and that's something I know from first hand, not because evil Colombian media told me so.

Sure you do. And you can generalize about the political consciousness of the fighters from your limited experience, and project this onto the leadership. You must have some gift.

Somehow, only the negotiations are politicized and this is completely disconnected from the FARC itself and the ideas it has for Colombia, which it has sought primarily by armed struggle over the past decades, despite the real ramifications that these peace talks have.

[Paul Pott]

These protests are the best thing to happen in Colombia in decades.

For this reason, FARC should push ahead with demands for peace with justice, since that reflects the demands of the working class of Colombia, and is what the Colombian state fears most. To deny peace would be to risk an Arab Spring style revolt, and to accept peace would be to risk a Chavista type movement totally reshaping Colombian politics. The focoist struggle is a peasant phenomenon by nature and has little basis in the working class, and is not so useful in current conditions, despite the fact that up to now, that has been one of the only forms of opposition possible in an environment where those making political demands without arms are often killed, in the rural areas. The peace movement brings the working class into the picture for the first time. That is what is needed.

[--Navarro--]

so, if you have you been to Colombia, Paul Pot, do you speak Spanish?

I feel uncomfortable replying in English because my knowledge of the language is very basic, I would prefer doing so in Spanish...

[Paul Pott]

so, if you have you been to Colombia, Paul Pot, do you speak Spanish?

I feel uncomfortable replying in English because my knowledge of the language is very basic, I would prefer doing so in Spanish...

I've been to Colombia once, from Venezuela. My family is from Venezuela.

Your English seems fine, but I understand Spanish at a basic level, so go ahead.

I'll reply in English, though.

[tuwix]

From this paragraph it's becoming apparent that you are a liberal who has nothing to offer to this discussion.


Maybe not a liberal in a strict meaning of this word but for sure he isn't revolutionary leftist nor "Junior revolutionary". And I'm surprised that mods haven't noticed that. His opinions are very coherent with opinions of the bourgeois governement of Colombia.

[--Navarro--]

It seems you really don't know how media in capitalist country work.


so you do?



But that whether the war will be continued or not is dependent on the one who negotiate and not on the ones imagined by bourgeois media.
Because the Government is negotiating only because it's the easier way out of war, not because of the political legitimacy of Farc (as I would explain better in my next post in Spanish).



And that they're in part FARC agents too. And it is justification to smash protests out by all means necessary.nope. Government said that protests were infiltrated by Farc in some areas. which is true, because Farc is a daily reality in said areas. but Farc agents are only a tiny minority in the protests, and, of course, that fact can't deny the legitimity of the protester demands.



And governemnt only decide to talk or to kill.this phrase, and this other "The deiversity is only mask hiding they're just bourgeois propaganda" make me think you are some sort of troll, or you try too hard to be a cartoon of the leftist stereotype some people has.

that's not true and, as I said, very few people has been killed in protests during the last decades in Colombia, and, in most cases, it was only self defense (protesters shooting at police, etc), accidents, or things like that, in which police forces didn't have any criminal responsability. to claim that, it's not to defend the government, it's to stick to reality. Colombian reality is hard and full of problems, but it's much more complex and full of contradictions that "hurr evil burgeoise class allied with the imperialists killing the truly, only good people"


Maybe not a liberal in a strict meaning of this word but for sure he isn't revolutionary leftist nor "Junior revolutionary". And I'm surprised that mods haven't noticed that. His opinions are very coherent with opinions of the bourgeois governement of Colombia.

because you're too obtuse to adress a discussion without these cliches and common places.

also, what do you mean with "mods haven't noticed that"? was the point of the forum then, if it's not discussing things from different points of view?

[--Navarro--]

That there are alternate media somewhere is irrelevant. explicar



How do you know I have not been to Colombia? Porque se evidencia a través de tus opiniones, que desconoces del todo la situación en el país. Y cuando digo del todo es, del todo.



Sure you do. And you can generalize about the political consciousness of the fighters from your limited experience, and project this onto the leadership. You must have some gift. cuál sea la conciencia política del recluta promedio de las Farc es algo que desconozco, pero los hechos hablan fehacientemente. las actividades de las Farc pasan por la minería ilegal, el tráfico de cocaína, las "vacunas" (extorsiones a comerciantes, ganaderos y agricultores, la mayoría de los cuales no son, ni mucho menos, gente pudiente), amenazas y asesinatos selectivos contra la población civil, la siembra de minas antipersonales en zonas habitadas por esta, el abuso de los derechos de niños y mujeres en las zonas de su influencia, el despojo ilegal de tierras a campesinos, etc etc.

asimismo tienen alianzas en casi todos sus frentes de guerra, con grupos neoparamilitares, en negocios relacionados con el narcotráfico, la minería ilegal, entre otros. si hay un trabajo de concientización y movilización política y demás, es marginal, la inmensa mayoría de sus acciones y procederes, desdice totalmente de su supuesta lucha revolucionaria. muchos de los jefes se comportan como el típico narcotraficante, llevando prostitutas de lujo desde las ciudades hasta sus campamentos, gastando miles de dólares en coches y toda clase de artículos de lujo, etc. las causas del conflicto en Colombia son políticas y, cómo no, todo está politizado, pero las Farc no son vistas por la gente como representantes de sus demandas políticas. pregúntaselo a los indígenas Nasa del Cauca, a los Awá del Nariño, a los campesinos de la zona de paz de Apartadó, a los raspachines del Guaviare, a los campesinos extorsionados por las Farc en el Catatumbo.



Somehow, only the negotiations are politicized and this is completely disconnected from the FARC itself and the ideas it has for Colombia, which it has sought primarily by armed struggle over the past decades, despite the real ramifications that these peace talks have.el gobierno negocia porque es la salida más fácil al conflicto, más allá de la legitimidad política que puedan tener las Farc. que es poquísima a los ojos de muchos colombianos, pues las Farc no han sido honestos respecto a los secuestrados civiles en su poder, tampoco lo han sido con las víctimas respecto a su voluntad de justicia y reparación (incluso han bromeado al respecto en los micrófonos y se han mostrado cínicos). lo cierto es que todo arreglo a que se llegue en las negociaciones, habrá de ser refrendado por el pueblo colombiano, y ahí veremos qué tan legítimas son las demandas políticas de las Farc. cualquiera puede enarbolar causas como la Reforma Agraria o la soberanía nacional y crear un discurso y una movilización al respecto. las Farc no son ni mucho menos los primeros en hacerlo, ni poseen el monopolio de dichas demandas, ni expresarlas les concede legitimidad.



For this reason, FARC should push ahead with demands for peace with justice, since that reflects the demands of the working class of Colombia


en absoluto. como dije arriba, las Farc de hecho no han estado en sintonía con las demandas del pueblo, en favor de la justicia y reparación de las víctimas. mucha gente se mostró crítica de que se iniciaran conversaciones, sin antes pedirle a las Farc el cumplimiento de unos requisitos básicos, originadas de parte de las asociaciones de víctimas y de familiares de secuestrados. mucha gente desconfía de las Farc enormemente, tras las fallidas negociaciones durante el gobierno Pastrana. y declaraciones de esta guerrilla a los medios, durante las negociaciones, han coadyuvado a acrecentarla aún más y a que la popularidad de Santos baje.

algunas otras demandas de las Farc, puede que estén en sintonía con las de la clase trabajadora colombiana (la creación de más reservas campesinas, democratización de la tierra, recuperación ambiental de zonas afectadas por el conflicto), pero, como dije, son demandas que existen mucho antes de que nacieran las Farc, que no son monopolio de estas y que mucha gente comparte, existan o no existan las Farc.



To deny peace would be to risk an Arab Spring style revolt, and to accept peace would be to risk a Chavista type movement totally reshaping Colombian politics. no sé qué te hace pensar tal cosa. los movimientos de izquierda en Colombia son muy débiles e incluso han visto sus votaciones reducirse todavía más en las últimas elecciones. el alcalde de Bogotá, Gustavo Petro, afecto a Chávez, tiene poquísima aprobación y ha sido duramente criticado. la imagen de gente como Chávez, Ortega, Evo Morales, está por los suelos en el país. además, un sistema de tipo chavista necesitaría de una maquinaria política para afianzarse (en términos de redes clientelistas, cacicazgos y demás) tal como en Venezuela.

respecto a las demandas de los campesinos y transportadores que iniciaron el paro, éstas son más bien concretas. alegan que los costes de producción son mayores a los beneficios, quieren rebajas en los insumos de producción, del precio de los combustibles, algunos también se muestran a favor de renegociar el TLC con los EEUU (léase bien, renegociar, no derogar), pues lo ven como la causa de la llegada de productos como arroz o patatas de afuera, a precios que arruinan su propia producción (lo cual es más bien producto de un malentendido, pues esos productos están llegando de contrabando, de los países andinos, no de los EEUU, y el impacto del TLC con ese país no es fuerte por el momento, aunque pueda serlo mucho más el año por venir). igualmente, han sido críticos respecto a cierta resolución del gobierno sobre el manejo de semillas pero, en este caso, también hay muchos malentendidos al respecto. no son reflejo, en términos generales, de un movimiento ideológico cercano al chavismo.

[tuwix]

so you do?


Many people of this forum do, but you don't because you aren't revolutionary leftist.



explicar


There is nothing to explain in this case for the revolutionary leftist. But it is obvoius that yoe aren't.



los movimientos de izquierda en Colombia son muy débiles e incluso han visto sus votaciones reducirse todavía más en las últimas elecciones.

If anyone who is leftist can be recognized as FARC agent and killed therefore, then it isn't strange that left ideology can't be popular. However, peace talks encourage people for left movements. But obviously negative effects of Free Trade Agreements have theit own contribustion to that.





nope. Government said that protests were infiltrated by Farc in some areas. which is true, because Farc is a daily reality in said areas. but Farc agents are only a tiny minority in the protests, and, of course, that fact can't deny the legitimity of the protester demands.


You exactly confirm my point from the begining that government's strategy ist to blame protesters of FARC influence to justify their own violence and opression against them. This "nope" is only to argue without any point.



this phrase, and this other "The deiversity is only mask hiding they're just bourgeois propaganda" make me think you are some sort of troll, or you try too hard to be a cartoon of the leftist stereotype some people has.


If there is lack of point to make, there insults starts to be only point. Its' just pathetic.



also, what do you mean with "mods haven't noticed that"? was the point of the forum then, if it's not discussing things from different points of view?

The forum is for revolutionary leftists. Other people are usually labeled as "Reactionary". You are labeled "Junior revolutionary" that isn't true as your opinions are very coherent to govermental ones and you should be labeled as reactionary as rest non-revolutionary leftist of this forum.

[--Navarro--]

Many people of this forum do, but you don't because you aren't revolutionary leftist.


With that question, I was expecting for you to enlighten me about the situation of the mainstream and alternative media in Colombia. with real arguments, not with set phrases, cliches and slogans that bear no relation with reality, which is what you been doing to this point on this thread. I'm still waiting for you to make a point, with actual arguments and proofs of what you say.

you are the perfect example of a reactionary, Manichean, obtuse way of thinking. the opposite of anything revolutionary.



If anyone who is leftist can be recognized as FARC agent and killed thereforethe ones killing left activits are neoparamilitary groups without any proven link with a Government agenda or policy of killing leftists. that is, the few leftists that have been killed in Colombia in recent years, were killed by criminals, some times with complicity from officials who were later prosecuted and punished for doing so. that is reality as seen from numerous HR reports, etc. and, except for them, the rest of people from leftist movements aren't "smashed out" or killed, they participe actively in elections, they can speak freely, and a good example of that is the UP party (the one that got almost exterminated in the latest 80s and earlier 90s) which is reborn and has obtained full legal recognition, in order to flourish again.



then it isn't strange that left ideology can't be popular.left has only made into power in Bogotá and a few urban areas. in other areas, Farc themselves have managed to make people vote against their violence and abuses, and, in favor of policies that fight them.



But obviously negative effects of Free Trade Agreements have theit own contribustion to that. explain the negative effects that FTA with the US has had on Colombian agriculture, so far. with real data and numbers, not with these assumptions with no basis on anything that you like to make.


You exactly confirm my point from the begining that government's strategy ist to blame protesters of FARC influence to justify their own violence and opression against them. This "nope" is only to argue without any point. except that you haven't been able to prove that oppresion and violence against protesters is not something marginal and that protesters aren't being listened, and their demands, taken into account. because, again, what you say is just a script that doesn't bear any relation to reality and, in this particular case, to how protests are being managed.



You are labeled "Junior revolutionary".labels are automatic and based on the numbers of post you have, as in any other forum

[tuwix]

With that question, I was expecting for you to enlighten me about the situation of the mainstream and alternative media in Colombia. with real arguments, not with set phrases, cliches and slogans that bear no relation with reality, which is what you been doing to this point on this thread. I'm still waiting for you to make a point, with actual arguments and proofs of what you say.


I'm not going to enlighten any non-revolutionary leftist including you how bourgeois press works. If you really want to know, you will read Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent".



you are the perfect example of a reactionary, Manichean, obtuse way of thinking. the opposite of anything revolutionary.

:D
You don't even know what "reactionary" means when revolutionary leftist say it.



the ones killing left activits are neoparamilitary groups without any proven link with a Government agenda or policy of killing leftists. that is, the few leftists that have been killed in Colombia in recent years, were killed by criminals, some times with complicity from officials who were later prosecuted and punished for doing so. that is reality as seen from numerous HR reports, etc. and, except for them, the rest of people from leftist movements aren't "smashed out" or killed, they participe actively in elections, they can speak freely, and a good example of that is the UP party (the one that got almost exterminated in the latest 80s and earlier 90s) which is reborn and has obtained full legal recognition, in order to flourish again.


Leftist are killed both by rightwing guerillas of cocaine bosses and by government forces. And you again presenting propaganda of bourgeois governement. I'm starting to think that you're an agent of them to this forum.



left has only made into power in Bogotá and a few urban areas. in other areas, Farc themselves have managed to make people vote against their violence and abuses, and, in favor of policies that fight them.


And obvious violence of army and right-wing guerillas didn't give support for left organizations? :D
And you again presenting propaganda of bourgeois governement.



explain the negative effects that FTA with the US has had on Colombian agriculture, so far. with real data and numbers, not with these assumptions with no basis on anything that you like to make.


And now you're defending neoliberal FTA... Because you're just neoliberal.
And what are effects of it the protesters says. They're protesting against effects ot the FTAs




except that you haven't been able to prove that oppresion and violence against protesters is not something marginal and that protesters aren't being listened, and their demands, taken into account. because, again, what you say is just a script that doesn't bear any relation to reality and, in this particular case, to how protests are being managed.


Just say that the bourgeois governement of Colombia is fantastic and never killed anyone who prostested against social injustice which was the cause of establishing of the FARC.... :P