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Developments in
Policy
U.S. Foreign Operations Spending for
Colombia-- On June 5, the House Subcommittee
on Foreign Operations "marked up" legislation that
includes US support for Plan Colombia. In this initial
round, total aid amounts for Colombia were reduced
10%, and the balance of military to economic aid -
which has been roughly 80% military / 20% economic
throughout the first seven years of Plan Colombia -
shifted to a 55% military / 45% economic package.
The new funding program places greater emphasis
on alternative development, strengthening of the
judicial system, and much needed support for victims,
including internally displaced persons. Support for
interdiction programs remains virtually the same,
although the costly and ineffective fumigations
program has been significantly reduced by these
cuts. The text will now be considered by the full
Appropriations Committee before a final version goes
for a vote on the floor of the House in the coming
month. Resolution-Congressman
McGovern has recently introduced House Resolution
426 to recognize 2007 as the Year of the Rights of
Internally Displaced Persons. The resolution is
nonbinding and recognizes this extensive problem of
internal displacement in Colombia. It also
recommends that the United States increase
humanitarian assistance to Colombia for IDPs. Long
term and emergency aid are both essential to
providing displaced persons the chance to rebuild
their lives in an appropriate and dignified manner. In
Colombia, violence forces an alarming 200,000
people to flee their communities each year, resulting
in a displaced population of some 3.8 million over the
last two decades, the 2nd largest in the world only
after Sudan.
Days of Prayer and Action-On May 20 and 21,
hundreds of U.S. Churches and activists participated
in services commemorating those who have suffered
as a result of the conflict in Colombia. They also took
action calling upon members of Congress to shift
Plan Colombia funds from military financing to
humanitarian aid, social spending and support for
Colombia's victims. 200 churches in Colombia also
participated in the Days, carrying out their own
services and national advocacy actions.
In preparation for the Days, the U.S. Office on
Colombia, Mennonite Central Committee and
Lutheran World Relief organized a four-state speaking
tour with Colombian church leader Oliva Gonzalez.
Oliva spoke about human rights violations
suffered by church leaders and the need to support
the rights of victims in Colombia. To read an article
about the tour visit:
Lancaster The United Church of Christ
issued a call to their members during the Days. As a
result, 2,608 people sent electronic letters to their
members of Congress asking them to alleviate
Colombia's humanitarian crisis through social aid
rather than fuel its war through military funding! To
sign up for action alerts from UCC visit: UCC
During the Days, Representative
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) sent a letter of support to
Colombia in commemoration of the 1997 killings of
human rights workers Elsa Alvarado and Mario
Calderon. To read the letter visit Defenders
Letter
U.S. Media Coverage of Colombia
Coca production rises-A June 4 Houston
Chronicle article reports that coca cultivation in
Colombia is up for the third straight year in a row. The
news comes from findings released by the White
House Office of National Drug Control. The findings
show that coca production rose by 8 percent in 2006
bringing the number of acres under coca production
up to 385, 484. The paper reports that 27 percent
more coca is being grown today in Colombia than in
1999 when the U.S. decided to implement Plan
Colombia-- a largely counter narcotics program in the
country-which has cost U.S. tax payers over five
billion dollars. Houston Chronicle FARC
rebels respond--On June 4 The San Diego Union
Tribune reported that the FARC (Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia) has rejected President Uribe's
proposal to released jailed members of the guerilla
group. The paper reports that the "FARC said that the
200 prisoners the government plans to free in the next
week were 'deserters' who had 'betrayed the FARC' or
were innocent civilians falsely accused of being
rebels, and that Uribe was using the potential
release as a way to 'distract attention from several
scandals, including an illegal spying
program and links between Uribe's supporters in
Congress and far-right death squads.'"
San Diego
Tribune
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US Office on Colombia
Heather Hanson
Executive Director
Annalise Romoser
Senior Associate
To Learn More
Peace in Colombia
ABColombia
Witness for Peace
Washington Office on Latin America
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