Re: [Marxism] English translation of FARC statement

["JoaquÃn Bustelo" <jbustelo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Some things that should be noted about the FARC statement:

It confirms that there was no FARC decision to release these hostages.
The accusation against two guerrilla commanders tends to confirm that
they were either blackmailed or bought off or both by the Colombian
government. This is another event suggesting a moral/political
decomposition among FARC combatants including among the leading cadre.

The FARC's reiteration of a policy of "exchange," and the statement
that freeing FARC prisoners in the hands of the government, which FARC
has for a long time sought through exchange, seem to be a promise that
a) they will keep their current hostages and b) hostage taking will
continue to be a top priority.

In this sense, the FARC's response to the overwhelming majority of
Colombians who want the hostages freed, as well as revolutionary and
progressive governments in the region that have called on the FARC to
release its hostages unconditionally is: drop dead.

There is no appeal to the masses to mobilize nor projection of slogans
or demands around which to do so. But there is a statement that it
would accept a negotiated peace under the right conditions. Taken
together, this confirms that the FARC views itself not in relation to
social forces or layers in motion, which it seeks to mobilize, but
rather as an autonomous element, pressuring for social changes.

There is no hint in the statement of a self critical reexamination of
FARC's tactics, strategy or approach, which, on the contrary, seem to
be reaffirmed.

Joaquin

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