Who in Colombia is Campaigning for 'No' to Peace?

In Colombia's plebiscite today there is a small, powerful, right-wing "No" campaign led by former president Alvaro Uribe and big landowners. And even though the vote is non-binding, these forces are opposed to even the remote possibility of a redistribution of wealth.

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Uribe has been at the center of the “No” campaign, arguing that agreeing to a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia will be akin to rewarding the rebels for years of violence and illicit drug trading. It is well-documented, however, that it is actually the landowners and Uribe himself that are tied to paramilitary violence and drug-trafficking.

Uribe argues that the FARC-EP has limited support and the government will be agreeing to concessions with terrorists, which could never have been achieved through the legitimate political process.

While the “No” camp is small in numbers, it is a powerful group, it's the ruling elite. From their perspective, Colombia’s society and economy has for decades been “captured” by the illegitimate activities of the rebel group. Uribe, with his staunch right-wing ideology has warned that a deal with the rebels would ruin the economy and push Colombia towards socialism.

The “No” campaign has had the luxury of the support of the mainstream media, including RCN, which is being investigated for supporting paramilitaries. But even the latest RCN poll from Tuesday said that the "Yes" vote is leading 66 percent to 34 percent for "No."

The five decade conflict between the FARC-EP and the government is thought to have claimed more than 220,000 lives and displaced more than 6 million people.