Rebels rule in rural Colombia, but their violent disruption of elections Sunday earned condemnation internationally and should spur stronger support for cleaning up the government in an effort to salvage a fragile democracy.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army waged four months of terror in declaring an election boycott over 40 percent of the nation. More than 2,000 candidates were intimidated into withdrawing through death threats and kidnappings. Some 40 candidates were murdered, and random killings of civilians was perpetrated by bombings and other nefarious means. Potential office-holders withdrew in one-fourth of the country's 1,072 municipalities.All of this combined with the election-eve murder of a Catholic priest and other threats kept voter turnout low. Most of the violence occurred in outlying areas away from major cities, but its intensity rocked the nation nonetheless.
Colombia's government was humiliated by the leftists' show of strength, unable to adequately protect candidates and voters. In areas where protection was provided, rebel retaliation is feared. Military officials have been stationed to govern towns where elections were impossible due to the threats.
The elections fiasco has left democracy in Colombia tattered but not beyond repair. President Ernesto Samper's election in 1994 with $6 million in drug cartel contributions fractured freedom's foundation, but the country has withstood that scandal and others in his corrupt administration. He will leave office next August. Civic groups attempted to fill the moral void at the head of Colombian government with an initiative Sunday asking voters to place a "citizens mandate for peace, life and liberty" flier in a special ballot box. Many voters complied, indicative of the desire among the populace for peace and order.
The election violence underlined the need for stronger military presence nationwide to combat the violent tactics of the FARC and ELN, and for an honest government willing to take on the guerrillas. It once again exposed the rebel, cartel-backed factions for the ruthless, cold-blooded renegades they truly are.