FARC calls on media to 'contextualize' and 'objectively' report on peace process ... Colombia's largest rebel group FARC calls on national media to "contextualize" ongoing peace talks with the government and to "objectively explain" the preliminary deal between guerrillas and government to avoid "confusion" among citizens. According to the group, Colombia's mainstream media "... will have to ensure balance and accuracy in their work that until now, generally, has been reduced to "inform" out of context, to go after sensationalism and the scoop at any cost, to edit with a tendency to censorship and distortion regarding the insurgent actor." – Colombia Reports
Dominant Social Theme: Mainstream reporting doesn't get it right when it comes to liberation movements.
Free-Market Analysis: The Colombian government and the Marxist oriented Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – the group that has fought the official government since 1964 – are holding peace talks in Oslo, Norway. Already the propaganda battle has begun.
FARC has called on Colombia media to be "balanced" in covering the peace talks. FARC mentioned Colombia's only two commercial television networks, RCN and Caracol, "who act, not in favor of the public interest, but the capitalist business interests." Here's more from the article above:
"Regarding a process that is of national interest, they actively prevented the country to hear the views of the insurgency in the same dimension as they allow the government's," said the FARC.
The FARC and the government, who officially opened formal talks in the Norwegian capital of Oslo on October 18, will begin talking on November 15 in Cuba.
Both parties have expressed the intention to put an end to the conflict between rebels and state that has marred the country since 1964.
FARC is obviously making its case aggressively. But there are reports circulating within Colombia that cast a different light. A commentary entitled "What happened in Oslo?" by Colonel Luis Arturo has made the rounds questioning FARC's motivations.
"The opening of the conversations in Oslo began with the passiveness of the government and the aggressiveness of the FARC [that] wants to redesign and reprogram the country [into] communist system of the ... far left," the article reads in translation. Arturo goes on to claim that Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez are helping define the position of FARC regarding the talks. "The bandits do not only want the pardon ... [but also] the [Colombian] state to their service."
Former president Alvaro Uribe has been concerned that the peace process will not bring peace but only an escalation of rhetoric and then further violence. If FARC warfare picks up again, economic progress made in Colombia could be in jeopardy.
Much depends on FARC's attitude regarding the talks and whether FARC leaders are sincere or not. See other DB articles here:
THE PRAGMATIST: FARC Stance May Not Bode Well for Colombian Economy
THE PRAGMATIST: Santos's 'Kiss and Make Up' Approach Renews FARC Rather Than Colombia?
Conclusion: Uribe does not believe in FARC sincerity. The next few months shall illustrate whether Uribe concerns are well founded.