May 21, 2004
WINNING THE W.O.T.:
Colombia's priests keep paths of peace open: Last week's agreement between right-wing militia leaders and the government was facilitated by the Catholic clergy. (Rachel Van Dongen, 5/20/04, CS Monitor)
As bishop of Montería, Monsignor Julio César Vidal Ortiz has different kind of ministry. Instead of saying mass or handing out communion to parishioners, he has a more dangerous mission: helping right-wing death squads, known as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), negotiate peace with the government. Montería is locally called the paramilitary capital of Colombia, and the right-wing militias control Father Vidal's turf.Like scores of other Catholic priests in this deeply religious country, Vidal's role is as much peacekeeper as parish head. He has attended every meeting since talks began last July between the government and AUC leaders - many of them alleged killers and drug traffickers - at their hideaway in Córdoba in northwest Colombia.
Just a few weeks ago, the 10-month peace process appeared to be faltering after the mysterious disappearance - and presumed death - of AUC founder Carlos Castaño, allegedly at the hands of fellow AUC members. But despite the hurdles, Vidal, along with the government and the Organization of American States (OAS), last week convinced 10 AUC leaders to accept a "zone of concentration" in Córdoba, to which they will be confined for the duration of negotiations.
In exchange, the government will lift arrest warrants - and thus, US extradition requests - for these leaders and their bodyguards, as long as they are in the zone. The Army will be allowed to patrol the zone's perimeter, and an international body, led by the OAS and the church, will regulate it. Thus Vidal and his colleagues will be key to the possible demobilization of some 20,000 rank-and-file paramilitaries.
Colombia is one of the untold success stories of the war on terror--untold because the media is dominated by folks who prefer Castro, the Sandanistas and Hugo Chavez. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 21, 2004 11:31 AM
Untold also, because a lot of the public is like me. They don't give a good d*amn about terrorist in Columbia.
I'm interested in Muslim terrorism and I would like to stay focussed on that.
Posted by: h-man at May 21, 2004 12:06 PMAlways wondered why they are called "right wing" militias.
Posted by: Rick T. at May 21, 2004 1:58 PMRick T.:
'Cause some are theoretically Communist, and thus "left wing", while others are theoretically formed to promote law and order, and thus "right wing".
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at May 21, 2004 2:14 PMThese militias were formed by the local citizenry to defend against the Cuban- and Venezuelan-sponsored Marxist revolutionary terrorists after the government failed to protect the people. Because they are in opposition to Marxists, they are "right-wing."
Posted by: at May 21, 2004 4:22 PM