Gunmen Kill Colombian Police Chief http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...05/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_assassination_3 '100 rebels killed' in Colombia http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2239739.stm Colombian Military Reports 100 Rebels Killed in Offensive http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/06/international/americas/06COLO.html US Insists Colombia Coca Spraying Is Safe http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...1&e=7&u=/nm/20020906/hl_nm/coca_spraying_dc_1 Colombian Troops Kill 22 Rebels in Andean Clashes http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020906/wl_nm/colombia_clashes_dc_1
I am familar with some of its politics and some of the region.... but whats the real reason for the the problems? Some one that is familar from the inside..like you. I tend not to pay atention to US news about Colombia... everyone knows they tend to favor their puppets in COlombia.. The US/UK is no stranger to South America and putting in there their puppets. I have encountered liberal Colombians and they talk about outside forces causing Colombia's problems...I can see where there are coming from. I remember reading an article how a US official and his wife were cuaght importing and exporting drugs.. But I have also encountered Conservative Colombians and they blame the liberals and radicals. But I can also see where they are coming from.. because instead of cleaning the dirty luandry inhouse... they go to luandrymats where anyone can come in
The truth is it all boils down to drugs. The Farc make something like half a billion dollars taxing the drug dealers and the AUC makes slightly less. The US isn't spending over a billion dollars in plan Colombian for humanitarian reasons it's military. Colombia was unique as it has usually had democracy. We hardly ever had military juntas and coupes. In addition, unlike Mexico there was not one party rule. The new president Uribe was elected because he said he was going to take a hard line stance against the insurants both the FARC and the AUC. The people in Colombia are feed up with the situation and just want peace. Like in many of the Latin American countries, the ruling elite has tended to only look out for themselves and there is mass corruption.
The truth is it all boils down to drugs. The Farc make something like half a billion dollars taxing the drug dealers and the AUC makes slightly less. I just cant believe that its all over drugs. I just cant. I know drugs means money and money means power..... but lets me real... there are other entrepenuers that make more money. The US isn't spending over a billion dollars in plan Colombian for humanitarian reasons it's military. I know. They are just putting in thier people there to fight there battles Colombia was unique as it has usually had democracy. We hardly ever had military juntas and coupes. In addition, unlike Mexico there was not one party rule. As longs as I can remember, and from what I have read...I always had it understood that Colombia has always been in Turmoil of some sort (economical, political, military, etc). I know that every country has its problems.. but that these were problems that actually affected the country enough to scare foreign investors. About the one party rule.... Many people believe that is true. In actuality, its not true. Granted, PRI did win every election and yes the party itself elected its candidate... but at the state and local levels, political parties such as PAN, PT, PRD did win. PRI has always had the most supporters.... but when you have 45% PRIstas, 35% PANistas, 10% PRDistas, and 10% Others... its only natural that PRI comes ontop .. The Nation could very well be 40% Pristas and 60% Antipristas...but when that 60% is split up ..PRi will win everytime. I dont blame PRI.... I blame the other mom and pop parties. Many of these other parties have the same views as Panistas...but wont go to PAN because they want thier own people.....so if they do win.... they get a nice check...And its those little parties that actually hurt the country. MAny liked to call it a dictatorship.... but there is nothing totalitarian about it. The new president Uribe was elected because he said he was going to take a hard line stance against the insurants both the FARC and the AUC. The people in Colombia are feed up with the situation and just want peace. Who is providing guns? Other than US Like in many of the Latin American countries, the ruling elite has tended to only look out for themselves and there is mass corruption. True and not true.... These parties that have ruled for so many years... didnt get to rule for so long by doing nothing. Granted, some foul play is done but the blame lies on the other small parties... I dont see how 3-4 parties can have the same views...and not form one party.... they say they want to do something...... but in actuality they are hurting..... Like I have always said.... It doesnt matter who is in power It could be PRI or Republicans or FARC or who ever.... corruption will exist... but the question is... can they deliver to keep the masses content.
The thing about the drugs is without the drug money there, is no way the FARC can keep their army of 17,000 supplied and armed. Colombia has not always been in turmoil. The last time there has been so much violence was the period known as the Violenca which lasted from 1946 to 1964, although it greatest destructive force was between 1948-1953. Depending on what you read anywhere from 80,000 to 400,000 people died in that period. The Colombian economy was actually doing well until the last year and half when recession hit. Supposedly Bush is going to lower the tariffs on Colombian flowers and textiles so that should help. The new president is also going to impose a war tax which will establish a new 1.2 percent tax for individuals or companies on assets over 57,000 dollars, to go into effect in October. The tax is aimed at collecting 778 million dollars, to finance the recruitment and training of 100,000 new police and soldiers. The majority of people affected by this tax are in favor of it. I thought it was not until the 70's that the other parties in Mexico were allowed to win elections. On the gun question, do you mean who is supplying the Colombian government or who is supplying the FARC and the AUC? I cannot blame the small parties I blame the people in Bogotá who steal the money meant for some poor village in the Amazon basin therefore depriving that village of a decent road housing hospital or the basic necessaries. The government has finally concluded that the reason people are pissed and join the guerrillas is because they have nothing. In addition, when the government has a history of empty promises and stealing from them and lining there own pockets that the people get pissed. I have read where you state you don't care how much they steal as long as they build what they were supposed to. Well in Colombia, the people in power just stole and didn't build.
Paramilitary Chief Offers Surrender BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - The chief of Colombia's brutal paramilitary groups, Carlos Castano, said that if the United States seeks his extradition for drug trafficking, he will surrender to prove his innocence, according to an interview published Sunday. AP Photo The right-wing militias agreed to re-create their national umbrella organization, with Castano leading it again, during a clandestine meeting in the mountains of northern Colombia, according to a letter posted on the group's Web site. The organization, known as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, splintered in July after Castano said some of the militias were engaged in drug trafficking and kidnapping, instead of focusing on their primary task of fighting leftist rebels. The AUC, considered a terrorist organization by Washington, is made up of militias that are accused of the majority of the massacres in Colombia's bloody civil war. Some 3,500 people die every year in the 38-year conflict. The AUC said in the letter on its Web site that the organization was reforming because the Colombian government couldn't protect many regions of the country from the rebels. "We hold the guerrillas exclusively responsible for Colombia's war and for its consequence, that Colombians have been forced to take up arms as the only way to live," said the letter, signed by Castano, Salvatore Mancuso, the group's military chief, Castano's brother, Vicente, and 15 local militia leaders. The letter was addressed to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan ( news - web sites), U.S. ambassador to Colombia Anne Patterson, Colombia's peace commissioner and the president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference. U.S. officials have declined to comment this week on reports that they were considering asking for Castano's extradition on drug trafficking charges. "If the (rumor) about extradition is true, tomorrow I will turn myself in to the United States," Castano told Colombia's largest newspaper, El Tiempo. "That is the best way to defend myself. I prefer to clarify there, rather than respond here, for things I haven't done." In its letter, the AUC rejected drug trafficking by its members, promised to respect international humanitarian rights and said that it wanted to be included in future peace negotiations. "Any member of the AUC that becomes involved in drug trafficking at the level of processing, shipment or exportation will be publicly exposed by us," the letter said, apparently leaving open the possibility that militia members can continue taxing coca growers. The paramilitaries and the rebels have both financed their fight through drug trafficking. Senator Rafael Pardo, a former defense minister and negotiator in peace talks with the now-defunct M19 rebel group, called Castano's offer to turn himself in a "publicity stunt." "Why doesn't he turn himself in to Colombian authorities who do have warrants for him," Pardo said. Two militias were left out of the reorganized AUC. One, from Bolivar state, is allegedly heavily involved in drug trafficking. The other, based in Meta state, was blamed for the kidnapping of a prominent Venezuelan businessman who was released in July. Castano dissolved the AUC shortly after he exposed the Meta militia's involvement in the kidnapping. The right-wing militias originally sprung up in Colombia to protect landowners from kidnapping by leftist rebels. Colombia has the highest kidnapping rate in the world, with more than 3,000 people taken hostage last year. Rebels released nine people Sunday taken hostage from a popular beach resort three weeks ago, government officials said. Eighteen others kidnapped the same day were still being held.
U.S. OKs Military Aid for Colombia By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department on Monday cleared the way for giving $41.6 million in arms and equipment to Colombia, certifying that the country's military has met human rights requirements in three areas. Congress had refused to provide the military aid until the State Department certified that the Colombian military had suspended military personnel who had engaged in grave human rights violations, cooperated with civilian prosecutors in rights cases and was severing ties with rightist paramilitary groups. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=/ap/20020909/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/us_colombia_2
Bad timing for U.S. bid to extradite warlord Uraba, Colombia -- A U.S. court's surprising decision last week to request the extradition of Colombia's most notorious paramilitary warlord on drug trafficking charges has complicated efforts to end the nation's 38-year war, analysts say. "The timing of the indictment was horrible," said Mauricio Romero, a professor of political science at the National University in Bogota and an expert on Colombia's paramilitaries http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/10/02/MN13078.DTL
Kidnapped Betancourt 'could be dead' The family and political party of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt has demanded information from the government or her captors regarding rumours that she is ill or even dead. My heart tells me that Ingrid is alive... [but] she could be sick Betancourt's mother Yolanda Pulecio Ms Betancourt, a candidate for the small Oxygen-Green movement, was kidnapped along with her running mate Clara Rojas in February by guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2291797.stm
TROPICAL ILLNESS Sunday's edition of Semana magazine reported that government intelligence officials are looking into tips that Betancourt is suffering from a tropical illness. The magazine said authorities are investigating reports from four informants who said she was twice taken to a clinic in a town called Planadas, the second time so sick that the doctors were panicked. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/4191640.htm If Ingrid has died it will be a great loss for Colombia.
Colombia rebel commander 'killed' The Colombian army says it has killed a senior leader of the Marxist guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Jose Arroyave, a regional rebel commander, is believed to be responsible for a number of kidnappings, among them that of the presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was seized in February. Military officials say Mr Arroyave died along with six of his bodyguards in an army offensive. A BBC correspondent in the Colombian capital, Bogota, says a military offensive against rebels, ordered by President Alvaro Uribe, appears to be going well. But he says senior commanders are concerned at an apparent lack of response from the rebels and fear that something big is being planned.
You thought right. I think the first non-PRI candidate to win a state seat was back in 76, but I'm not sure (I was 2 back then)
I don't know for sure. But I recall reading about a PAN candidate winning in the north back in 1976. (Probably the state of Chihuahua)
Colombia's largest rebel army losing strength, U.S. envoy says WASHINGTON - Colombia's largest guerrilla group is losing strength, the U.S. ambassador to Colombia said Tuesday, and may weaken further as U.S. involvement in the South American conflict deepens. U.S. Special Forces will ''be on the ground in a few weeks'' to help train Colombian counterinsurgency units, and Washington plans to help Colombia track and target leftist and rightist outlaw commanders, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson told an academic conference. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/4241018.htm
Colombia Opens Drug Smuggling Probe Prosecutors opened a drug trafficking inquiry into the highest-ranking members of Colombia's largest rebel group for the first time, the attorney general's office said Wednesday. Leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, have been directly involved in smuggling drugs through Brazil, according to a report published in El Tiempo, Colombia's largest newspaper. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...p/20021023/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_drugs_4