The Petro administration declared two simultaneous emergencies

COLOMBIA - In Brief 20 Jan 2025 by Andrés Escobar Arango

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A critical region located on the border with Venezuela, where Ecopetrol produces oil, and coca plantations and cocaine laboratories abound, is currently the theater of war between the guerrilla of ELN, on one side, and FARC dissidents on the other. These events have been particularly harsh recently and have created what many consider the largest humanitarian crisis experienced in the area. Critics believe such a crisis could have been prevented had the government reacted earlier and with sufficient strength. However, the so-called “Total Peace” became an impediment for the Colombian armed forces to counter the attacks of the outlaws. On January 20th President Petro declared the virtual end of Total Peace and negotiations with ELN. That guerrilla group mobilized many men in arms from neighboring stronghold Arauca, attacked FARC dissidents, and declared Ecopetrol facilities as a military target. The government response would involve mobilizing troops to defend the population. To confront the simultaneous need for resources for the Armed Forces and the legal capabilities for this crisis, the Government declared simultaneously 1) the “State of Internal Commotion” and 2) an “Economic Emergency.” The two exceptional states are allowed under Articles 213 and 215 of the Constitution, respectively. Constitutional lawyers explain that both have very different causal terms and conditions. Gabriel Cifuentes, a legal expert, said that never in the recent history of Colombia had a president declared both states of exception at the same time. The internal commotion had antecedents in the time of Alvaro Uribe's government. An economic emergency has been declared seven times in the las...