Uribe and Other Hurdles for Colombia's Land Law

[Judi Lynn]

Uribe and Other Hurdles for Colombia's Land Law
Analysis by Javier Darío Restrepo

BOGOTA, Oct 22, 2010 (IPS) - Although it was to be expected, former president Álvaro Uribe's return to politics in Colombia has caused a stir and has a clear aim: to block two of his successor Juan Manuel Santos's pet projects -- reparations to victims of the armed conflict and the restoration of land to displaced peasant farmers.

"We have gone back to the simplistic formula of whether or not Uribe agrees," columnist María Teresa Ronderos exclaimed, adding that "It's as if Santos's presidency had come to an end and his predecessor had come back, eager to take the reins."

The same sense of bitter surprise was expressed by columnist Francisco Gutiérrez: "The eight-year 'Uribista rumba' is still marking its rhythm."

And Gustavo Petro, the leader of the centre-left opposition party Alternative Democratic Pole, quipped "As far as I can tell, he hasn't left."

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