The announcement was made on the first working day after President Uribe?s recent re-election, the U.S. has found Colombia?s human rights progress satisfactory and will ?unfreeze? a portion of promised military aid. Part of the Plan Colombia policy dictates that 25% of Colombia?s military aid remains ?frozen?, the funds can only be utilized twice a year when the U.S. State Department certifies that the Colombian government has taken strides toward the improvement of human rights. This process has as of late been the source of some disagreement within the State Department which has become evident by the delays in certification. This particular certification gives Colombia the last 12.5 % of 2005?s military aid, while 2006?s funds have yet to be unfrozen.

The delays, however, should not be chalked up to disagreements on the U.S. side alone. Colombia has made it very difficult to find evidence of improvement. Many cases of human rights abuses have failed to progress through Colombia?s incredibly slow judicial system, and Uribe?s government has only provided the rare evidence of punishment of those members of the military found guilty of human rights abuses. Those who watch U.S.-Colombian relations closely, note that other events relating to policy between the two countries seem to prompt certification, like diplomatic visits, or recent election victories. Two recent improvements may have pushed the last certification through. Colombia?s Procuraduría fired seven members of the army who were implicated in the August 2004 in Arauca of three union leaders. In addition investigation moved forward and arrests were made by Colombia?s Fiscalía of two soldiers for the 2003 massacre in Cajamarca.

U.S. State Department spokesperson, Sean McCormack insists that good progress has been made under President Uribe?s government and that the United States "will continue to urge the government of Colombia to further strengthen human rights protections and to take additional steps to ensure accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses and other crimes. We are encouraged by the government of Colombia's commitment to continued efforts to achieve these important objectives." Meanwhile threats to human rights advocates in Colombia have increased, and in the past year there have several murders of government critics.

While certification technically means that U.S. think that the respect for human rights in Colombia is improving, in a time of increased threats, the military aid certification allows is often human rights advocates only bargaining chip. While the victories are much smaller that most would like, any victory means justice and truth for a least a few victims of Colombia?s conflict.

Click here to read Adam Isacson's detailed explanation of Colombian certification.

The 2007 Foreign Operations Bill, that will decide how much aid Colombia will receive next year is due to hit the House floor on Thursday June 8th or Friday June 9th. The text of the bill is not yet public but three specific changes to U.S. aid to Colombia are expected

The first is an increase in military and police aid by $29 million. These funds along with money from the Defense Department will make a total of $630-640 million in U.S. aid to the military and police forces. The increase was spear-headed by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana) who justifies it by claiming that Colombians need upgrading of their heliocopters and other aircrafts. This increase puts military aid at its highest level since 2000, the first year of Plan Colombia, when aid levels were given a one-year special boost, to jump-start the program.

Economic aid is also expected to increase by $10 million, making the total economic aid $135 million. Though increases in economic are vital to improving development in Colombia, of the $800 million total aid to Colombia (includes funds from the Department of Defense) next year only 17% of it would be economic. The vast majority of funds will be earmarked for military programs.

In a decision by the Subcommittee Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona) the $135 million in aid will be appropriated into the Economic Support Funds (ESF) program instead of the State Department run Andean Counter-Drug Initiative. The fact that economic aid will come out from under the drug war focus is widely viewed as a positive change, ?Under this plan the funds would be able to yield a lot more, aside from that, the investment remains in Colombia and not in a company of U.S.?, notes an official. Unlike the Andean Initiative the ESF is flexible in that the money doesn?t have to go to organizations who put in bids through USAID, payments can be given directly to goverments.

Since the text of the bill still remains under wraps, there are still some serious questions about the details of these changes. Its unclear whether the increase in Colombian aid is at the expense of some other Latin American countries, or if any stipulations have been applied toward the receiving of the additional aid. Until the 8th or 9th of June, there is no way to tell.

Afro-Colombian Grassroots Leaders Delegation June 19-22 Twelve Afro-Colombian leaders from the grassroots movement and peace communities will ocme together to develop a platform of international solidarity that addresses the human rights crisis, humanitarian crisis, and loss of legal title to land that their communities are confronting. This situation is worsening daily in these rural communities and endangers their very existence as an ethnic group beyond the armed conflict. Topics that will addressed include the illegal appropriation of traditional lands by armed groups and economic actors; threats, massacres, violence perpetrated against thier communities and thier leaders; the crisis of internal displacement; the impact of US military and fumigation programs; and the truth, justice and reparation challenges related to the demobilzation process. Leaders will decide upon strategy and recommendations document directed at the US Congress. Additionally, they will develop mechanisms of communication, cooridination and representation between thier communities and guidelines for work with international supporters, the US Congress and international organizations.

For further information and the schedule of events please contact Marino Cordoba, AFRODES USA, at macobe2001@yahoo.com or Gimena Sanchez, WOLA, at gsanchez@wola.org

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.