The United States government has recently promised $15.5 million more aid to Colombia?s paramilitary demobilization process. The funds are earmarked to be used towards the investigation and legal processing of ex-combatants, supporting the OAS monitoring and evaluation system, the victim reparations process, as well as the reintegration of ex-combatants. These funds come at a time when threats from supposedly de-armed and demobilized paramilitary groups towards journalists, government critics, and human rights advocates have increased. A letter sent by a group that calls themselves ?an armed wing of the ex- AUC? states that they will not tolerate a win by any other candidate other than President Uribe. They threaten that, ?Right now we have several of your leaders under our watch and it is only a matter of time..until we will topple those false communists. They now disguise themselves for the electoral campaign for that little story of human rights.?

Despite such threats, the head of Colombian intelligence, Andre Penate, denies that paramilitaries are re-arming after the agreement that they would lay down their arms. He told a news program that, ?The policy has been a successful policy because it has restored law and order in many parts of the country. Though our negotiated solution (we have) been able to dismantle most of the paramilitary organizations". He instead blames the West for the fact that some demobilized paramilitaries have instead become criminal gangs, and drug traffickers. He contends that, ?The fuel that keeps terrorism going on in Colombia is the consumption of cocaine in the wealthiest part of the world?.

President Uribe?s policies toward demobilized paramilitaries have been heavily criticized by human rights organizations around the world, who claim that they receive only token sentences for the crimes that they?ve committed. Uribe faces an election this Sunday in which he must win 55% of the votes in order to avoid a run-off voting round. Many Colombians support Uribe?s strict security policies, despite complaints by human rights advocates.

The United States continued to give humanitarian aid to Colombia this week by promising $50,000 to help flood victims and over 3,830 tons of food to help Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs) The areas of Boyaca and Cundinamarca have been declared areas of ?national calamity? due to heavy rainfall and flooding that has claimed at least 112 lives. Since the beginning of the year the heavy rains have affected over 127,000 people, and destroyed thousands of homes. The United States will make the donation of $50,000 to the Red Cross for the purchase of food, water, and other items that are needed by the flood victims.

Earlier this month the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) gave a food donation that was estimated to be worth 3.3 million dollars to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). This donation will help feed over 120,000 IDPs throughout Colombia for about three months. The aid part of the United States? Food for Peace program is part of over 6.5 million dollars that has been donated to Colombia since 2003.

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About the US Office on Colombia

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.