1960Colombia has been in a state of armed conflict since the 1950s. In such a situation,2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)6In May, the People's Liberation Army (ELNThe armed forces and government calledcease-fire agreementThe company has reached a What they have accomplished is2022August, 20067He took office onGustavointerpoint (interword separation)Francisco.Peter.President Urego (hereinafter Mr. Petro). In addition to attempts to resolve the conflict, he has submitted several reform bills to Congress to correct poverty and inequality, which are among the causes of the conflict in the first place. There are many bold reforms that the Petro administration has attempted since its early days in office. Let us take a look at each of these reforms and what their prospects are.

President Petro during his inauguration (Photo:Raul Ruiz-Paredes / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0])

Problems facing Colombia and their background

First, we will trace the historical background of the discord within Colombia. In the territory of present-day Colombia, several ethnic groups lived mainly on agriculture, while also trading with other settlements. However16With the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century, the region became heavily influenced by Spanish arbitrariness. Plantations were created on its vast and fertile lands to produce sugar and tobacco for export. The background of this production,The system of forcing them to work on the land where the indigenous people lived (encomienda systemAt one time, dominant agricultural land ownership by settlers, such as the The regulators, who were sent by the Spanish government to manage the land, would do this in exchange for the wealth offered by the settlers.I forgive you.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

 1810Colombia gained independence from Spain in 1949, but this time it began to be strongly influenced by the United States. At the time of independence, the current Panama and Venezuela were also part of Colombia,1830Beginning with Venezuela's secession in 1949 due to internal divisions, its territory has shrunk.1903Panama from Colombia in 2006.independence (e.g. of a company)The United States, which had focused on the development benefits of the Panama Canal, was behind the development of the Panama Canal. In addition, American companies dealing in fruits began to build plantations in Colombia, where local workers were forced to work long hours for low wages and in harsh labor conditions. The disparity that emerged not only in land ownership but also in working conditions, and the accompanying poverty and exploitation, were unbearable for those who could not bear it,1928In 2006, a banana plantation operated by an American company went on strike. However, under pressure from the U.S., the Colombian military, which prioritized the interests of the company, opened fire on people who were rallying during the strike, resulting in many casualties. This incident at the banana plantation was later called thebanana massacreIt is now called "the

Even after that, the inequality of land between a few economic elites and peasants, and the poverty and inequality resulting from this inequality, did not improve. In rural areas, where this problem was particularly severe, agricultural communities were created to confront this inequality and protect the peasants,1950Ages.Cuban Revolutionby farmers and laborers who began to demand more land rights, influenced by the1964In 1949, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARCThe landowners of the land were created. However, the state and large landowners, seeing this as a threat, decided to send in the army to disband it, and armed conflict began between them and those who resisted.ELNalso to resist unequal land and resource distribution,1964The armed group, founded in 1949, had been attacking large landowners and infrastructure companies. As the battle between government forces and the armed group continues, we are on the side of the government forces.militiawere multiple, resulting in many casualties.

 furthermore1980It has become more serious since the 1950s.drug problemThe conflict was also intensified by the emergence of a huge drug cartel that illegally produced cocaine on land that was not monitored by the government. A huge drug cartel was born, illegally producing cocaine in a land that was not monitored by the government,FARCand ... andELNbut also collaborated with militias and other groups on the government side. Cocaine was smuggled mainly to Western countries where it was in demand and sold at high prices, bringing enormous profits to drug cartels and armed groups. Under the guise of eradicating drug cartels, the U.S. provided a lot of military assistance to the Colombian government.offerI've been there.

 In the midst of all this,2010Former President Juan Manuel Santos, who took office in 2006, aimed to resolve the conflict,FARCand2012Peace negotiations were initiated in 2006.2016in the yearpeace agreementAlthough the contents of the report lead to theFARCThe agreement was rejected once the opposition movement spread within the country, pointing out that it was too much of a concession to the United States (U.S.-Japan). After a revision conference, the peace agreement was officially put into effect, and significant progress was made toward peace. HoweverFARCSome members within the FARC opposed this and defected, and then the new FARC Estado Mayor Central faction (EMCand other separatist organizations were also to remain. The agreement also included an agrarian reform that would hand over unused farmland to landless farmers, but not much has been done since then.No progress.The problem remains that the Based on the agreementFARCIn the former control areas that were disarmed by theenlargementThe current situation is that the company is doing so.

 The Government.ELNall2017counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)10month1from the day of2018counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)1month9A mutual temporary cease-fire was reached until the end of the day. However, while seeking a political solution to the conflictELNArmed action continued after the ceasefire by the2019counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)1In May, the government side of the peace talkssuspension of music, dance, etc. as a sign of mourningThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

The town of Medellin in northern Colombia (Photo:Luis Perez  / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA2.0])

We will look at the economic situation in Colombia, where there is still ongoing conflict in various parts of the country. According to the World Bank, the daily7.5The poor in Colombia who live on less than US$,2021As of the year43.4% (%)(*).1(The). In land ownershipdisparityis still half of the agricultural land in the 21st century.1%.The situation has not improved from the composition of a few controlling large tracts of land, which was owned by large landowners in the The long-lasting conservative right-wing government has made the landowners and other economic elites of the United States, as well as the economic elites of the advancingfavorable treatmentThe past has had and continues to have serious repercussions. right-wing governments and they are financiallycollusionThere was also continued political corruption, including corruption.

 1980The coal and petroleum industries, which have flourished since the 1950s, are also closely tied to Colombia's economy. In particular, exports of49.1% (%)The country is heavily dependent economically on oil, which accounts for Coal production is also abundant, second only to oil.exported goodsThe first two are the following.2010Since assuming office in 2006, former President Santos has sought to revitalize exploration and development by attracting foreign capital,2018Former President Ivan Duque, who took office in 2006, has also been promoting the oil and gas industry, and the government has been raising production and other projects.supportThe oil and coal industry, however, has been deforested. However, the development of the oil and coal industries has been accompanied by deforestation,1990Since the year2015Year.25over the course of a yearabout60010,000 hectaresThe loss of forests in Colombia has also threatened the ecosystems of the country, which is rich in biodiversity. Colombia has a rich biodiversity, but its ecosystem is threatened by deforestation.

Emergence of the Petro regime

As we have seen, Colombia has had a long succession of right-wing governments, and their reigns have not corrected inequality and disparity, with a small ruling class holding most of the land and resources. This has been a source of growing dissatisfaction among the people,2022One of the most notable candidates in the 2006 elections was Petro, a leftist.

Mr. Petro, himself a past member of the leftist guerrilla April 19 movement (M19He has a history of belonging to an organization calledM19was an organization founded by scholars, doctors, and other intellectuals and was active mainly in urban areas. He was a member of1985He was captured by the military in 1949, but was later released,1990in the yearM19He also participated in the peace negotiations that paved the way for the disarmament and formation of a left-wing political party by the His political career as acarrierbegan here, serving as a member of the National Assembly and mayor of the capital, Bogota, and repeatedly running for the presidency. Petro's opponents, a small group of the ruling class, were not comfortable with his bold social reforms, and he was not elected for many years.

In 2022, Mr. Petro again ran for the presidency, this time against strong resistance from some sectors of the population. However, his policies aimed at a comprehensive peace to resolve the conflict and social reforms to correct the disparities and poverty that had been the backdrop of the conflict were well received by voters.expectationThis led to the As a result of this, he was2022counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)6He was elected in June. In the same year8In order to initiate reforms after his arrival in May, he was asked to join the Historical Alliance Coalition, of which he is a member (The Historic Pact coalition) was handicapped by the fact that he had less than a majority of seats in the House of Representatives. He contacted centrist and conservative parties,coalition governmentThe team was assembled.

Another plan he has in mind is a policy of oil and coal reduction, a policy that addresses the internal and external environmental problems of domestic deforestation and global climate change. These policies are presented below.

Toward "Total Peace

Mr. Petro's main objective is to end the conflict and achieve peace in the country.The "Total Peace" Plan(*2). They are actively trying to establish a dialogue with armed groups that continue to operate in the country. This move, as mentioned at the beginning of this articleELNThis led to a cease-fire agreement with the2022counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)11Since the first round of negotiations was held in June, the two sides have been in a state of tension due to differences of opinion, but as a result, the two sides have been able to reach an agreement on a six-monthcease-fire dealwas concluded. The government also has otherEMCand other armed forces, such aspeace negotiationsThe company is also actively working on the2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)2Month.EMCincluding4Two armed groups and an informalceasefireHe also stated that the company has reached

Cocaine being smuggled (Photo:Coast Guard News / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

It has also begun to take measures to address the drug problem, which has been closely linked to the conflict. Until now, the Colombian government, with the military support of the United States, has been fighting the drug cartels through the military. However, the area under coca cultivation, the main ingredient of cocaine,2021In the year43%.As has been increasing, the use of armed control has not been effective. Therefore, instead of armed control, President Petro moved farmers from illegal coca cultivation to sustainable and legal crops.planand is already in the process of expanding its land holdings. However, it is unclear whether this can be accomplished, as there is currently no crop more profitable than coca. In addition, Petro's ultimate goal is to legalize the production and trade of coca and cocaine. The goal is for the government to control the cocaine market to eliminate the illegal trade and reduce the profitability of the drug.

Progress is being made not only in armed conflict but also in diplomacy. With neighboring Venezuela, with which relations had not been that goodrestoration of diplomatic relationsis another major move since President Petro's inauguration. active in both Colombia and Venezuela.ELNIn response, the Venezuelan government cooperated with the Colombian government in proposing peace negotiations. This isELNIt was also one foothold in resolving the conflict, as the first round of negotiations with the United States was held in Venezuela. Conversely, there were fears that relations with the United States, which does not recognize the current government in Venezuela, might become strained. However2023counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)4In May, President Petro gave the U.S.visitWhen the President of the United States and I met, we had positive discussions, and there were no major differences of opinion between us.

Toward Alleviating Poverty and Inequality

The Petro administration is attempting various approaches to this problem, which is also a root cause of conflict, through redistribution of wealth and resources, alleviation of poverty among the population, and guaranteeing a minimum standard of living. This section traces reforms and legislation in the areas of taxation, labor, pensions, and health.

1The second is tax reform. Only two and a half months after Petro's inauguration, a bill that would impose an excess profits tax on special profits, mainly in the coal, oil, and other extractive industries, in addition to tax increases on high-income earners, which had been proposed during the election, was passed.adoption (e.g. motion, bill)The first time the government of the United States was formed, it was a coalition government. This success included the creation of a coalition government in which Mr. Petro had a parliamentary majority.backgroundis significant. This will increase tax revenues and improve the budget deficit.signsis visible.

 2The second is to improve working conditions. A bill to shorten working hours and raise overtime pay was submitted to Congress in May 2023. Through this reform, the government aims to eliminate exploitation of workers and create fair and equitable working conditions. Critics say the measure will hinder job creation.Stated.However, the administration hopes to move forward with this reform as it will help alleviate poverty and stabilize people's lives.

Workers at a coffee plantation in Colombia (Photo:CIAT / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 2.0])

3The second is pension reform. The government believes that only one in four citizens meets the conditions to receive a pension.Stated.Therefore, he submitted a bill to Congress in May 2023 that would expand the pension system itself so that more people would have the opportunity to receive pensions. Although there is some concern that this will affect government funding, President Petro is committed to the relationship of the state guaranteeing the rights of its citizens.establishThe company wants to do the same.

 4The second is to improve the health care system. This is intended to increase access to health care nationwide, while at the same time funding facilities that provide health care services and raising salaries for health care workers. In addition, the government has established a private medical group (EPSThe idea was to abolish the existing health care network, called the "health care network," and instead have city and state officials take on that role.EPSis a private health insurance provider organization that provides access to medical care to its members and pays some of their medical expenses. In recent years, however, their finances have deteriorated, and they have been unable to provide medical care to people and pay medical institutions on time. However,EPSIf healthcare is politicized and corruption increases as government agencies take on the roles that were once filled by thecriticismThe Petrovich administration was The Petro regime wasEPSThe government withdrew the elimination of the "medical care system," but it has indicated the content of provisions that limit some functions, such as the centralization of payments to medical institutions. This reform has led to a defection of the parties that had formed a coalition.

Transition to a Green Economy

The mining of coal and oil, which are the mainstay of the country's economy, has not only led to deforestation in Colombia, but has also increased global carbon dioxide emissions.increaseand climate change problems, and President Petro wants to reduce them. As part of this, the government will not issue new permits for fossil fuel explorationrepresentationThe company has set a The deadline for already approved exploration is until it is completed. Current Status,2022Crude oil production, which had increased at the end of the year2023Since the beginning of the yeardecreaseand several coal mines.closureThe company has been making moves such as

Colombian coal mine site (Photo:Hour.Poing / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0])

In response to this bold reform, the government has said that it amounts to "economic suicide".pointing outThere is a This is because coal and coal is the main export commodity, and any reduction would inevitably damage the economic situation. The government assumes that it will compensate for this by promoting agriculture and tourism, and that the reduction will be phased in, but the uncertain outlook means that investmentdecreaseThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

On the other hand, in terms of domestic power supply, thermal power generation using fossil fuels accounts for only a small proportion of domestic power supply, and hydroelectric power generation is the largest source of domestic power supply.64.9%This goal is easier to achieve than the aforementioned problem, since the share of wind and solar power in the total energy mix is about 1.5% of the total energy mix. The development of other renewable energies and the increase in the share of wind and photovoltaic power generation will complement theIt is being promoted.Situation.

Future Outlook

As we have seen in this article, reforms in Colombia appear to be progressing. But the road is not always easy. Political Corruptionscandaland Mr. Petro's approval rating at the start of his administration was48It was %, but the9At the end of the month, the30%and a few percent lower than the approval ratings recorded by previous right-wing governments.resulthave emerged. In addition, since the time when the parties in the coalition were promoting health reform, they were not in the same direction anddetachmentThe "new" is being done.

Although the more hurriedly President Petro's reforms are implemented, the more he has diverged from his surroundings and created new problems, the Petro administration, which has made so much progress in its reforms in the first year since its inauguration, may deserve further attention in the future.

note (supplementary information) symbol1　The GNV will use the World Bank's current extreme poverty line as of 2021 (1day (of the month)1.9USD), not the ethical poverty line (1day (of the month)7.4(US$). Here, for data convenience.7.4instead of7.5for the use of the company's products. For more information.GNVThe article "How do you read the global poverty situation?See "

note (supplementary information) symbol2　FARCThe implementation of essential agrarian reform, which is also part of the content of the peace agreement with theELNResumption of peace negotiations with theFARCThe implementation of peace agreements with separatist organizations, active dialogue with the country's minority elites, and investment in education about peace.5A peace plan consisting of three pillars.

Writer: Kanon Arai

Graphic: Misaki Nakayama

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