Alternative development, peace processes, and forestry laws as they affect indigenous groups in Colombia were some of the themes discussed last week at a congressional briefing with two indigenous leaders from Colombia. Luis Evelis Andrade, President of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) and Jairo Valencia Restrepo, National Advisor for the Colombian National Coca Eradication Project (PNDA- PLANTE) both spoke about their work and the overall situation for indigenous groups in Colombia. Luis Andrade outlined three concerns for indigenous groups in Colombia: the lack of state attention to health and human services for indigenous groups, the continuation of armed conflict, and the form in which development programs are implemented. Jairo Valencia discussed eradication as a means of weakening guerrilla and paramilitary groups, emphasizing the additional need for a dismantling of the organizational structures of these groups. Jamila Thompson from the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, another sponsor of the event, highlighted her office?s attempts to redirect 40% of Plan Colombia funding for alternative development programs.

The Secretary General on the MAPP/OEA submitted a sixth quarterly report to the OAS Permanent Council last week, in which it raised several concerns about the way in which the paramilitary demobilization is progressing. Among these was the alarming ratio of weapons surrendered or destroyed to the number of men demobilized. In some areas, the percentage of weapons surrendered compared to combatants demobilized was as low as 24.5%. In addition, the report outlined three specific phenomena that are particularly disconcerting. The first, the regrouping of ex-combatants into criminal gangs, generally occurs ?in regions where guerrilla activity is low and the entry of the forces of law and order has not been effective,? according to the report. These gangs resume criminal activities such as extortion, social cleansing, and levies on drug production that were formerly carried out by larger paramilitary groups. This has been witnessed in several areas, including Palmito, Sucre department, and the municipalities of Majagual, Guaranda, and Montelíbanoa among others. The report also identified holdout fronts or groups that refused to demobilize as detrimental to the process. These groups ?are organically parts of the armed units of demobilized groups, and they continue to pursue the same criminal activities in their spheres of influence.? The last main concern listed in the report is the emergence of new armed actors and/or the strengthening of those already in existence. Essentially, this involves the cessation of resources and operations to co-opted ex-combatants or newly recruited members. The report noted that this occurs principally in areas with ?consolidated illegal economies.? Overall, the MAPP/OEA report highlighted the need for financial support to continue effective operations in Colombia, and the importance of the Mission as a vehicle for verifying the process of demobilization. It urged the OAS to give strong support to the Colombian government as the demobilization process progresses, and emphasized external verification as a means of properly executing this process.

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The U.S. Office on Colombia is an independent non- profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, that seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia.