Two Distinct Visions of Colombian/U.S. Relations

While Colombia continues to extradite some paramilitary leaders to the U.S. with concerns that such actions will shield them from Colombian justice, one former U.S. FARC hostage is concerned that some extraditions are based on drug trafficking and not for kidnapping.

Earlier this month, the Colombian Supreme Court denied a request by the United States to extradite Gafas for our kidnapping. The court issued a statement explaining they denied his extradition "because the crimes for which he is wanted were committed in national territory." Similarly, though the extradition request for Cesar was approved, it was approved for drug trafficking not for our abduction.

...Colombian President Uribe has extradited over 800 criminals to the US, more than any other president in the history of Colombia. In his time as president he has worked forcefully and skillfully with the United States to put criminals in their place and see that justice is served. But despite Uribe's diligent efforts, the situation with Gafas and Cesar demonstrates the fraught and difficult questions that need to be answered as America confronts terrorism in its own backyard. In Colombia and in other locations around the world, the War on Terror is unavoidably tied to the War on Drugs. Both are important and crucial to keeping America safe, but making drugs the only grounds for extradition sets a dangerous precedent and risks undermining our country's ability to combat terrorism.

But is Plan Colombia and the war on drugs really about justice and terrorism? If so, why the hell isn't it working?

An October report from the Government Accountability Office found that coca-leaf production in Colombia had increased by 15% and cocaine production had increased by 4% between 2000 and 2006, and recommended cutting funding. Plan Colombia has cost U.S. taxpayers over $6 billion.

Plan Colombia has also failed to promote human rights. Broadly speaking, the practical political meaning of Plan Colombia in the Colombian political context has been: "Washington supports the Colombian government, and therefore the Colombian government can do whatever it wants without restraint." The human consequences of this political blank check have been disastrous.

In may ways the issue boils down to whose rights are more valued and whose values are considered rights. What I mean is that in the fight against "terrorism and drugs" being waged by the U.S. it seems that by any means necessary is ok (and by extension the actions of Uribe) however when it comes to those labeled as leftist terrorists, we want different standards applied.

Sources : The Latin Americanist, Huffington Post

Colombian Human Rights Case May Go to Military

The case against Colombian retired army colonel Luis Alfonso Plazas Vega for his role in the disappearance of 11 people in 1985 may go to the country's military justice system, should a civilian judge rule in favour of the request.

Luis Alfonso Plazas was arrested in July 2007 in relation to the disappearances, which took place during the military assault on the Palace of Justice in Bogotá.
The assault took place after M-19 guerrillas took those inside hostage in November 1985. Over 100 people died, including 12 Supreme Court judges.

It would seem that handing over the case to the military would go against a 1997 Constitutional Court decision that ruled that all cases implicating the security forces in serious human rights abuses must be investigated by the civilian justice system.

Human rights organizations may have a reason for concern.

Source : Amnesty International, El Espectador, IPS

Alvaro Uribe Hampering Justice : Human Rights Watch

The international human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, yesterday said that Colombian president Alvaro Uribe's administration "hampers justice efforts" by obstructing investigations into its alleged links with paramilitaries, and called for world oversight of the probes.

"The government of President Uribe, in our opinion, has become an obstacle for the advancement of justice," HRW's Americas director Jose Miguel Vivanco told reporters on presenting the organization's annual report on Colombia.

Investigations are specifically focused on the United Self-Defense Group of Colombia (AUC). Not surprisingly Uribe says the charges are ridiculous, and he reasserted his commitment against violence in his country.

Sources : France 24

Is there a FARC-Mapuche connection?

Chilean indigenous leaders have strong links to Colombia’s FARC guerillas according to allegations made by Chile’s right-wing opposition.

A report was allegedly leaked by Colombia’s government to a group representing Chilean presidential hopeful Sebastian Piñera during a recent visit to Bogota. The information from the documents reportedly used information from the laptops seized during the deadly operation against Raul Reyes, and detailed how indigenous Chilean leaders reportedly met and were photographed with FARC commanders.

Piñera (the odds-on favorite to succeed President Michelle Bachelet) claimed that the “information is accurate” and that his allies had no choice but to publicize the information. Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma categorically rejected Piñera’s accusations and denied knowing of any links between Mapuche heads and the FARC. One Mapuche leader reacted by blaming both the government and the opposition of “creating a climate” of oppression against Chile’s indigenous people.

Chile’s opposition contended that Colombia’s center-right president Alvaro Uribe was upset with the Bachelet administration over the “leaked dossier.” Yet the Colombian government rebuffed that claim as Uribe tried earlier today to avoid sparking a major diplomatic crisis.

Image- The Telegraph

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, Angus Reid Consultants, The Patagonia Times

Sources (Spanish)- El Tiempo, Union Radio, La Nacion, urgnte24.com

Recalling Horrific Paramilitary Massacre in Colombia

The following video contains a graphic retelling of a 2000 massacre in the Colombian town of El Salado, Bolívar near Cartagena. According to witnesses the killers were paramilitary members who cut off ears, shot, choked, and stabbed people because they were involved with the guerilla. One witness said that with each death came the playing of music.



For a complete English language transcript of the witness statements see La Guayabita.

Afro- Colombians

There have been accusations on the internet of Latino bloggers and writers using terms like "Latino" and "Hispanic" ::shudder:: to negate the specific experiences of Latinos whose identities are rooted in African and Native identities.

Kenyon Farrow writes:

...oftentimes I feel like in the US, it’s as if slavery didn’t happen in Latin America and there are no Black people there to speak of. Or that somehow or another, the Spanish speaking Caribbean and South America has “gotten beyond” racial categorization, when it was only a generation ago that people like Cuban singer La Lupe (among many others) proudly declared she was Black. And why don’t any of these Baseball players from the Dominican Republic get discussed as Black people? There’s also this thing that happens, where I have been told that I, as an African-American, don’t understand the nuances of what happens in terms of race/racialization in Latin America.

Source : Kenyon Farrow

Colombia Admits to Appropriating Red Cross Symbol in Betancourt Rescue

Colombian President (and Hugo Chavez's new bff), Alvaro Uribe, apologized earlier today for his soldiers using the Red Cross emblem on their uniforms during the rescue mission that liberated former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others. The misuse of the international organization's symbol violates the Geneva Convention and can be considered a war crime.

"We regret that this occurred," President Alvaro Uribe said in a speech following reports that the Red Cross emblem was displayed on a vest or T-shirt worn by a Colombian intelligence officer who took part in the rescue mission.

Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross members is against the Geneva Conventions as it could put humanitarian workers at risk when they are in war zones.

The Red Cross, said through it's Colombian spokesperson that their symbol must be respected, especially as they continue to work inside Colombia.


Sources : Yahoo!, The Latin Americanist

Colombian Prosecutor Wants Piedad Cordoba and Other Colombian Lawmakers Investigated

Is Colombia engaging in a witch hunt? Some may suggest that, especially after Colombian prosecutor Mario Iguaran called yesterday for an investigation into 12 people for alleged ties to the FARC.
Among those he wants investigated include lawmakers Piedad Cordoba (pictured left), Wilson Alfonso Borja and Gloria Ines Ramirez.
The call for an investigation is based on information obtained from those infamous laptops that were seized by Colombia and allegedly belonged to Raul Reyes.

Source : CNN, The Latin Americanist
Image Source : Venezuela Analysis

Ecuador's President Rafeal Correa: "Even the U.S. Can't Control Outside Infiltration"

In an interview with BBC Mundo, Ecuador's President Rafeal Correa said from Paris that he feels no responsibility for the FARC camps found inside his country that sparked an international incident.

First, the FARC didn't have permanent camps [inside Ecuador]. They were temporary, about two or three months.
Second, what self critique should I have? Even the United States can't prevent immigration, that's why they are building a wall along the Mexican border.
Accusing us of allowing the FARC to infiltrate means accusing Colombia allowing the FARC to leave Colombia. That's Colombia's responsibility. We control our own territory.

In the interview (which is really interesting and should be read in my opinion), Correa also said that while he has no confidence in Uribe he is willing to talk with him in the upcoming conference in Lime because they are neighbors.

Source : BBC Mundo

Colombian Police Kill Major Drug Leader

Colombian police claim that they have killed Victor Manuel Mejia Munera and two bodyguards. Mejia Munera was the most sought-after fugitive outside the country's rebel leaders.

Mejia Munera and his brother, Miguel Angel Mejia Munera, known as "Los Mellizos," or "the Twins," have been accused of running major drug rings in Colombia. The brothers also have faced narcotics-trafficking charges in the United States.

The two had been indicted in the U.S. on narcotics-trafficking charge.

Source : CNN

Journalist speaks out vs. union threats in Colombia

Journalist and documentarian Hollman Morris has spoken out against the abuses on labor union members in Colombia. Morris- who fled Colombia in October after receiving serious death threats- voiced his concern while the Canadian government continues the latest round of free trade negotiations with the South American country:

"I don't think they told (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) that more trade unionists are killed in Colombia than in any other country in the world," said Morris, who was to meet with officials at the Foreign Affairs Department later Friday.

"What this shows is a blind support. ... I'm not sure whether the Canadian public would accept this from Prime Minister Harper, or whether the Parliament would accept his memory loss."

Morris is currently in Canada on a speaking tour sponsored by Human Rights Watch (HRW). As we mentioned earlier this week, HRW criticized the harassment of union members in Colombia.

Image- IFEX

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Canadian Press, International Herald Tribune