COLOMBIA’S right-wing government has been accused of waging a “dirty war” on the left, using media organisations and intelligence services to manipulate public opinion.

Democratic Pole Senator Ivan Cepeda warned on Thursday that there was a concerted effort by President Ivan Duque’s administration to smear the so-called Historic Pact, an alliance of left-wing parties and social movements.

“The strategy is simple … to present politicians as corrupt, criminals, bad people, abusers, scammers, thieves, alcohol users or drug addicts,” he said.

Mr Cepeda accused the government and state intelligence services of co-ordinating actions and running “a dirty war” via social media, bloggers, journalists and mainstream media. 

This is a tried and tested method used by the right and the United States, as recently seen in Cuba, where Twitter bot accounts were used to sow anti-government discord.

The left-wing senator alleged that the far right was seeking to evoke sympathy for former president Alvaro Uribe, whom judicial investigations have linked to paramilitary organisations and drug trafficking.

But the main aim is to discredit the left ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

Formed in February, the Historic Pact has faced threats and attacks from far-right and paramilitary organisations since its inception.