BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro outlined a new initiative on Monday aimed at reducing coca cultivation in the violence-affected northeastern region of Catatumbo. The plan includes compensating farmers as they transition from coca to legal crops, with the hope of undermining the power of rebel groups that benefit from the cocaine trade.
During a cabinet meeting, President Petro announced the government's goal to eradicate 25,000 hectares of coca within a span of 140 days. Catatumbo is significant for its approximately 55,000 hectares of coca cultivation, making it a crucial area in Colombia's cocaine production landscape. The government believes that a reduction in coca cultivation is key to decreasing violence and dismantling the illegal operations of rebel groups.
Petro emphasized that the eradication of coca cultivation would be voluntary for farmers, who will receive financial support from the government during this transition to legal agricultural products. Concurrently, the Colombian military will maintain operations against rebel factions in the region. The government also plans to invest in infrastructure improvements, particularly roads, to facilitate the movement of legal crops to market.
"Peace in Colombia depends on the voluntary decision of farmers who grow coca to eradicate their crops," Petro stated, highlighting the importance of the farmers' commitment to the plan.
The Catatumbo region, home to around 400,000 residents, has experienced significant turmoil in recent months. In January, over 36,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to coordinated attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN). The ELN accused certain civilians of collaborating with a rival armed group, the FARC-EMC, leading to violent confrontations that resulted in approximately 80 fatalities. This tragic situation led the Colombian government to halt peace negotiations with the ELN and declare a 90-day emergency, granting authorities the ability to impose restrictions on civil liberties in the region without needing congressional approval.
Petro has accused rebel factions of attempting to seize control over the lucrative coca crops and drug trafficking routes that run through Catatumbo. This development is part of a broader contextual backdrop, where cocaine production in Colombia has been steadily rising since 2013. Reports from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime indicated that coca bush cultivation saw a 10% increase in 2023, while potential cocaine production surged by 53% compared to the previous year.
The struggle to manage coca cultivation and the associated violence intensified following a 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, the nation's largest rebel group. While this agreement aimed to reduce coca growth in rural areas, the dissipation of FARC's influence has allowed smaller armed groups to fill the void and continue to promote cocaine production.
This intricate battle against coca cultivation and its resultant violence illustrates the complex intersection of agricultural policies, economic hardship, and armed conflict in Colombia. As the government unveils its new plan in Catatumbo, the challenges ahead remain considerable, demanding careful navigation to achieve meaningful progress.
