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Busy weekend in Colombia: the World Cup and a crucial election Busy weekend in Colombia: the World Cup and a crucial election
(about 20 hours later)
The last time Colombia's national team made it to a World Cup in 1998, the nation's leftist rebels were overrunning military bases and staging mass kidnappings of civilians. As England eliminated the Colombian team, a newly elected president announced the start of peace talks with Farc guerrillas. The last time Colombia's national team made it to a World Cup, in 1998, the nation's leftist rebels were overrunning military bases and staging mass kidnappings of civilians. As England eliminated the Colombian team, a newly elected president announced the start of peace talks with Farc guerrillas.
Those talks failed and 16 years, four World Cups and thousands of deaths later, Colombians will this weekend cheer their team in its debut match against Greece – and choose a new president who will define the future of the country's 50-year conflict. Those talks failed, and 16 years, four World Cups and thousands of deaths later, Colombians will this weekend cheer their team in its debut match against Greece – and choose a new president who will define the future of the country's 50-year conflict.
The choice is between incumbent, Juan Manuel Santos, who heads a centre-right coalition, and Oscar Iván Zuluaga of the rightwing Centro Democrático party, the brainchild of former president Alvaro Uribe, whose hardline government beat back the rebels through a sustained military campaign. The choice is between incumbent Juan Manuel Santos, who heads a centre-right coalition, and Oscar Iván Zuluaga of the rightwing Centro Democrático party, the brainchild of former president Alvaro Uribe, whose hardline government beat back the rebels through a sustained military campaign.
Santos has banked his re-election on the promise of success in a new peace process with the Farc that began in 2012 and is seen as the first serious chance of ending the conflict. Zuluaga has been sharply critical of the negotiations saying the government should not give the rebels concessions but rather seek their surrender. He denies there is an armed conflict in Colombia, calling the Farc a "terrorist threat".Santos has banked his re-election on the promise of success in a new peace process with the Farc that began in 2012 and is seen as the first serious chance of ending the conflict. Zuluaga has been sharply critical of the negotiations saying the government should not give the rebels concessions but rather seek their surrender. He denies there is an armed conflict in Colombia, calling the Farc a "terrorist threat".
Zuluaga was the top vote getter among a field of five candidates in the first round of the elections in May and Santos came second. Neither won more than 50% of the vote, forcing a runoff.Zuluaga was the top vote getter among a field of five candidates in the first round of the elections in May and Santos came second. Neither won more than 50% of the vote, forcing a runoff.
Polls now show the two candidates neck and neck, indicating a deep divide over how best to end a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances, and millions of internal refugees.Polls now show the two candidates neck and neck, indicating a deep divide over how best to end a conflict that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and disappearances, and millions of internal refugees.
In a pre-election debate, the candidates squared off over the issue. Santos said to Zuluaga: "You want to continue this war. I want to end it." Zuluaga countered: "After four years (in office) all you've done is sit down to negotiate with terrorists."In a pre-election debate, the candidates squared off over the issue. Santos said to Zuluaga: "You want to continue this war. I want to end it." Zuluaga countered: "After four years (in office) all you've done is sit down to negotiate with terrorists."
Though the idea of peace is fundamentally appealing to most Colombians, Santos has had a hard time selling it.Though the idea of peace is fundamentally appealing to most Colombians, Santos has had a hard time selling it.
"It is very difficult to have a campaign solely about this chimera," says Peter Schechter, director of the Latin America centre at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. "It's not touchable or feel-able.""It is very difficult to have a campaign solely about this chimera," says Peter Schechter, director of the Latin America centre at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. "It's not touchable or feel-able."
Santos said last week that the Farc talks, which are being held in Cuba, are in their final phase.Santos said last week that the Farc talks, which are being held in Cuba, are in their final phase.
Since starting talks in November 2012, Farc and government negotiators have reached partial deals on three of five points on the peace agenda: agricultural reform, the Farc's future political participation and dismantling illegal drug trafficking. They began tackling the issue of reparations for victims of the conflict last week.Since starting talks in November 2012, Farc and government negotiators have reached partial deals on three of five points on the peace agenda: agricultural reform, the Farc's future political participation and dismantling illegal drug trafficking. They began tackling the issue of reparations for victims of the conflict last week.
Just five days before the election, the government announced that it has been in preliminary talks with the country's second largest rebel group, the ELN, to begin parallel peace talks. Zuluaga's campaign manager, Marta Lucía Ramirez, said the timing of the announcement was meant to "manipulate" voters.Just five days before the election, the government announced that it has been in preliminary talks with the country's second largest rebel group, the ELN, to begin parallel peace talks. Zuluaga's campaign manager, Marta Lucía Ramirez, said the timing of the announcement was meant to "manipulate" voters.
Though peace has been the central topic of the election, the campaign has hardly been peaceful.Though peace has been the central topic of the election, the campaign has hardly been peaceful.
"I don't ever remember such a vicious presidential campaign," says José Gómez, an executive for a travel company in Bogota. "The fight between them is almost personal.""I don't ever remember such a vicious presidential campaign," says José Gómez, an executive for a travel company in Bogota. "The fight between them is almost personal."
In the run-up to the first round, Zuluaga was caught on video discussing strategy to discredit the peace talks with a computer technician on his campaign team who has since been charged with espionage. Uribe then launched accusations that drug money had financed Santos' 2010 presidential campaign. Both cases are under investigation.In the run-up to the first round, Zuluaga was caught on video discussing strategy to discredit the peace talks with a computer technician on his campaign team who has since been charged with espionage. Uribe then launched accusations that drug money had financed Santos' 2010 presidential campaign. Both cases are under investigation.
The acrimony was credited for the high abstention rate in the first round vote when more than 60% of eligible voters stayed away from the polls.The acrimony was credited for the high abstention rate in the first round vote when more than 60% of eligible voters stayed away from the polls.
Now observers worry that the Colombia-Greece match on Saturday may affect voter turnout on Sunday, particularly if a Colombia win leads to all-night celebrations.Now observers worry that the Colombia-Greece match on Saturday may affect voter turnout on Sunday, particularly if a Colombia win leads to all-night celebrations.
But the Farc say they hope the national team's participation in World Cup can help voters decide.But the Farc say they hope the national team's participation in World Cup can help voters decide.
"We have a dream that football, through respect and tolerance, can ... bring us a moment of joy or entertainment that calms consciences and helps us find the best path toward reconciliation," the Farc said in a statement."We have a dream that football, through respect and tolerance, can ... bring us a moment of joy or entertainment that calms consciences and helps us find the best path toward reconciliation," the Farc said in a statement.