Colombian President Gustavo Petro greets a soldier in Saravena, Arauca, 22 November 2022.Colombian Presidency (EFE)
Gustavo Petro grew up politically in the M-19, a guerrilla group that became very popular in Colombia for its daring strikes. Its founders stole the sword of military hero Simón Bolívar, but on the run they found they had lost it along the way. There they created a reputation for being as fearless as they were clueless. The President of Colombia received all of this legacy, which just became clear during the 72 hours of a ceasefire with the ELN guerrillas that never existed.
On the last day of the year, Petro tweeted all day. The President is constantly checking Twitter on his phone and keeping an eye on what people are saying to him. When he tweets, he lowers his glasses to look directly at the screen. On December 31, he is waiting until midnight to announce something important: his government has agreed on a bilateral ceasefire with five armed groups, including the ELN. The message is followed by a statement from the Bureau announcing various decrees to carry out the processes with each organization. Everything seemed knotted.
Although there were some details that drew attention. Such an affair for two, like a dance, is usually signed by both parties, and not just one, as it seemed. No one from the ELN said anything about it, which drew a lot of attention. And not necessarily the whole department of the state was aware of it. Some factions in the army claim they were unaware of the armistice. Police Colonel Sandra Hernández told a press conference two days later that she “officially” had no ceasefire order and that they hoped to meet in the next few days to find out what to do. It sounded disturbing.
In reality, the armistice did not exist. The ELN denied this this Tuesday. Simply put, the guerrillas explained, no ceasefire had been agreed with the Petro government. This fictitious peace had lasted barely three days. Petro called his officials in charge of negotiations with the guerrillas and said that at that meeting he would discuss with them the repeal of the decree with the ELN and the resumption of military action against these guerrillas. It was angry news after it was publicly revealed.
In the hours that followed, culprits were sought for Petro’s first major slip-up in his six months in office. Defense Minister Iván Velásquez quickly stepped up: According to his version, before Petro announced it on Twitter, he informed the army commanders and the Director General of Police. Although in truth that is not the underlying problem. The question is whether or not this agreement was reached with the ELN.
The guerrillas firmly say no. The first commander of the ELN army, Antonio García, indicated that the conditions for a permanent ceasefire were not in place because, in his opinion, neither the police nor the military respected the one they decreed at Christmas. “They continued to act like traditional governments, merely repeating: ‘The police and army will continue their operations against the ELN despite the announcement of a ceasefire.'” Garcia wrote on Twitter.. A talkative man on social media, he ended his exhibition with a note: “As the Paisas would say: What a sadness man.”
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The not insignificant incident also reveals a lack of coordination between the government and the negotiating table appointed by Petro to reach an agreement with the ELN. The negotiators are people close to Petro, they have his complete trust, but sometimes one says one thing and the other says another. The government’s chief negotiator, Otty Patiño, a former member of the M-19 selected by Petro, has this time cautiously denied Petro. He said the ceasefire was only “an intention” and that the president’s intention was “to shorten the times for armed negotiations and to maximally stimulate the spaces for political negotiations”. However, he acknowledged that it is an issue that will hardly be raised in the second round of talks, which will start shortly in Mexico. In other words, Petro rushed.
Some attribute this impulse to their need to comment live on current events via Twitter. Several advisers have alerted him to the danger of making immediate decisions on any matter. It happened to him when the left was losing the constitutional referendum in Chile and he brought up Pinochet. It happened to him when he was leading the way in announcing the return of the Venezuelan government and opposition to Mexico – it bothered everyone that he was taking on that leading role. And it has now happened to him with a truce that never happened and which has been his biggest stumbling block as president.
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