Las promesas del Gobierno Petro al Clan del Golfo en paz total: sacar oficiales y frenar bombardeos
Negotiations Between the Petro Government and Clan del Golfo
Initial Context of Negotiations
- The transcript discusses the beginning of negotiations between President Gustavo Petro's government and Clan del Golfo, initiated in September 2022, shortly after Petro took office.
- A day before a deadline for Clan del Golfo members to concentrate in Córdoba, Noticias Caracol reveals previously unheard audio recordings from these initial negotiations.
Key Agreements Made
- In the recordings, Danilo Rueda, then Peace Commissioner, commits the state to halt military operations against Clan del Golfo and to stop extradition of its leaders.
- The first meeting occurred on September 2, 2022, involving Rueda and Luis Armando Pérez (alias Jerónimo), a commander of Clan del Golfo. Legal advisors were also present at this secret meeting.
Military Operations and Ceasefire Requests
- Rueda reached agreements that included stopping all public force operations against the criminal organization. He emphasized maintaining a strong public image while negotiating covertly.
- Jerónimo insisted on removing special forces from areas under Clan control as part of their ceasefire agreement established on August 7, 2022.
Commitment to Non-Bombardment
- Rueda agreed without hesitation to cease bombings against Clan del Golfo. He communicated two main messages: cessation of bombings and cleaning up police intelligence operations.
- Publicly, Defense Minister stated bombings would only stop if minors were at risk; however, recordings indicate a broader commitment not to conduct any bombings.
Intelligence Operations and Trust Building
- During discussions, Rueda requested information about police officers who disobeyed orders to halt operations against Clan del Golfo.
- As a gesture of trust-building, he assured that purges within law enforcement had already begun with significant removals occurring prior to their meeting.
Consequences of Negotiation Strategies
Extradition Promises
- Rueda committed not to extradite members once negotiations progressed. This involved lifting arrest warrants as part of de-escalation efforts.
Impact on Criminal Activity
- Despite initial promises made during negotiations, evidence shows that commitments were upheld throughout Rueda's tenure as commissioner.
Growth of Clan del Golfo
- The clan expanded significantly during this period due to reduced military actions against them. Their membership grew from 4,061 in 2022 to nearly 10,000 by 2025.
Human Rights Concerns
- Juanita Gobertus from Human Rights Watch highlighted how ineffective security policies combined with peace strategies led to increased criminality affecting civilians across Colombia.