Chavez's Call for FARC Disarmament Takes Washington By Surprise

[Judi Lynn]

Chavez's Call for FARC Disarmament Takes Washington By Surprise
By Mark Weisbrot, AlterNet. Posted June 11, 2008.

Political chasm between Washington and Latin America continues to deepen, as Chavez rejects FARC's armed campaign.

Washington's foreign policy establishment -- and much of the U.S. media -- was taken by surprise this week when President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, said the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) should lay down their arms and unconditionally release all of their hostages. The FARC is a guerilla group that has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for more than four decades.

Chavez's announcement should not have come as a surprise, because he had already said the same things several months ago.

On January 13, for example, Chavez said: "I do not agree with the armed struggle, and that is one of the things that I want to talk to Marulanda (the head of the FARC who died last March) about." Chavez also stated his opposition to kidnapping, and has made numerous public appeals for the FARC to release their hostages.

Chavez had also explained previously that the armed struggle was not necessary because left movements could now come to power through elections, something that was often difficult or impossible in the past because of political repression.

The surprise in U.S. policy and media circles is a result of a misconception of Chavez's recent role in Colombia's conflict. A comparison: former President Jimmy Carter has recently called upon the United States to negotiate with Hamas -- dismissed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and its allies in Israel and Europe. Carter is not an advocate of Hamas nor of armed struggle. He has met with Hamas and called for negotiations because he is trying to promote a peace settlement.

The same has been true for Hugo Chavez in the Colombian conflict. This is how Chavez's role has been seen by the families of the FARC's hostages (including U.S. military contractors), Colombian anti-violence activists, the governments of Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia and almost every other state in the region, and also in Europe. None of these people (including FARC kidnapping victims) or governments are admirers of the FARC. They have strongly supported Chavez's efforts, including but not limited to his success this year in gaining freedom for six hostages that were held by the FARC.

More:
http://www.alternet.org/audits/87821/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Here's a correction you can be sure the Associated Press wants you to see!

Clarification: Venezuela Chavez story
2 hours ago

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — In a June 10 story, The Associated Press reported that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in January urged world leaders to back the armed struggle of leftist Colombian rebels. Chavez said at the time that world leaders should recognize the groups as "true armies... insurgent forces that have a political project." However, Chavez also said a day later: "I don't agree with the armed struggle" and urged a political solution to the conflict.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPwmvpcxRvIN3-40Lih1x2gaFjiwD918JV000

You know the Associated Press would NEVER want you to get the wrong idea.