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In June, Congress approved a 2002 supplemental appropriations bill, with several key sections affecting U.S. aid to Colombia.
Colombia's human rights record is the worst in Latin America (80% of violations are committed by the military and the paramilitary death squads the work closely with). U.S. involvement has escalated a war that kills over 3000 Colombian civilians every year, and has left about 2 million Colombians as refugees, displaced within their own country.
The War on Drugs joins the War on Terrorism
The mission of aid would be expanded to "a unified campaign against narcotics trafficking, against activities by organizations designated as terrorist organizations such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and to take actions to protect human health and welfare in emergency circumstances, including undertaking rescue operations." (The administration's original request referred more broadly to "the government of Colombia's unified campaign against narcotics trafficking, terrorist activities, and other threats to its national security.") This "unified campaign" language would only apply to fiscal year 2002. Also, there are no human rights requirements with this supplemental package.
More direct intervention
Troop cap loophole: The original 2000 "Plan Colombia" aid package law included a provision limiting the U.S. presence in Colombia to a maximum of 800 military personnel and contractors. The law specified that the cap only applied to US personnel in Colombia "in support of Plan Colombia." It defined "Plan Colombia" as "the plan of the Government of Colombia instituted by the administration of President Pastrana to combat drug production and trafficking, foster peace, increase the rule of law, improve human rights, expand economic development, and institute justice reform." Since some activities now being proposed, such as oil pipeline protection, do not fit within the definition of the original "Plan Colombia," the troop cap technically does not apply to them.
More U.S. military aid: This supplemental package appropriates $45 million new dollars in military aid for Colombia. Specifically, the proposal includes: $25 million State Department Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) to Colombian military and police anti-kidnapping units [which engage in combat with guerrillas]; $10 million for "sustainment and maintenance costs of C 130 transport planes for counter-drug aviation operations" [which come into combat with guerrillas]; $6 million for training military units to protect the Ca-o Lim-n - Cove-as pipeline in northeastern Colombia [these units are the subject of massive criticism from local civilians, for human rights violations]; $4 million in new funding for Colombia's police, to "harden" police stations in rural towns, to defend against attacks by the FARC.
As the human rights crisis deepens in Colombia, the Bush Administration answers with military might.
Anti-War
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