• U.S. Pressures Colombia to Get Tough on Human Rights Abusers Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, recently urged Colombian officials to aggressively pursue and prosecute human rights abusers and ensure that those guilty are held accountable for their actions. Insisting that Colombian officials properly implement the paramilitary demobilization bill, Burns said that “we think it has to be implemented in a very aggressive, very tough way because, while peace is the reason for a program like this, justice is important as well.” Specifically citing the February massacre in San Jose de Apartado, in which eight people were allegedly killed by the army with support from the paramilitaries, Burns urged the Colombian government to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable. Yet, despite harsh words for Colombian officials, Burns remains “satisfied that the president is dedicated to resolving these cases,” because he “received very detailed explanations of the government’s position on each of these cases and of the steps the government intends to take to bring them to a rapid conclusion.” Human rights groups, the United Nations, and some U.S. lawmakers remain critical of Colombia ’s human rights record, the Peace and Justice Law, which aims to demobilize the right-wing paramilitaries by offering lenient jail sentences to those who turn in their arms, and of the Colombian government’s superficial attempts at severing the relationship between paramilitaries and the military.

• Colombian Officials Offer to Buy Farmers’ Coca Colombian officials have offered to buy coca from farmers in an attempt to dissuade individuals from cultivating the illicit crop that is used to manufacture cocaine. Colombian President Uribe, who must compete with guerrillas who buy coca paste from peasants, has yet to disclose how much the government would offer in exchange for the coca, simply saying that “we are going to offer … to pay peasants who have coca to bring in.” This offer comes on the heels of recently released data that claims that Plan Colombia, the U.S.-sponsored counter-narcotics program, has failed to significantly decrease overall coca cultivation in the Andean region. Although Uribe has hailed the plan as an effective way to deter farmers from growing the illegal crop, critics of the program say that Uribe’s plan will simply worsen the drug trafficking program and might even encourage farmers to grow coca in order to reap the benefits of the program. According to Colombian Senator Rafeal Pardo, “the problem is not the coca leaf, it’s the transport of the cocaine [used to make it].” Colombia , the largest producer of cocaine in the world, supplies the majority of the cocaine in the U.S.

• U.S. Soldiers Charged with Drug Smuggling Four soldiers suspected of using military aircraft to run a drug smuggling operation during a two-year period will face court-martials at Fort Bliss . Daniel Rosas, Victor J. Portales, Francisco Rosa, and Kelvin G. Irizarry-Melendez are charged with smuggling more than 200 pounds of cocaine into the U.S. between April 2003 and March 2005 for distribution in Louisiana and Texas . Military documents allege that the soldiers, who were on regular rotations between the U.S. and Colombia as members of the 204 th Military Intelligence Battalion, bought cocaine in Colombia and transported it via military aircraft from the Apiay air base, near Bogota, to Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. Six civilians are also cited in the charges, but military officials have no further information on their status. According to military documents, planning for the operation began in March 2003 with Portales, Irizarry-Melendez, and Rosas all fronting their own money to buy the initial cocaine. Facing charges of conspiracy, making false official statements, wrong use, possession, distribution or importation of cocaine, and damaging the good order and discipline of the armed forces, Irizarry-Melendez and Rosas could face court-martials in early and late September, with Portales facing a court-martial in early October.

• Colombian Navy Intercepts Cocaine at Sea With the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Colombian Navy seized 1.7 tons of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea . Along with the seizure of the cocaine, which is valued at $44.8 million, four Colombians traveling on the boat were arrested as well. So far this year, Colombian officials have seized 63 tons of illicit drugs, worth approximately $1.5 billion. Per a 1999 agreement between Colombia and the U.S., the U.S. must provide Colombia with equipment and materials as well as information on smugglers in an effort to help this South American ally combat drug trafficking.

• Colombian Human Rights Groups Urge Against Human Rights Certification Several Colombian human rights groups have urged the U.S. State Department to refrain from certifying that Colombia has made significant improvements in their human rights record. Per U.S. law, the State Department must certify twice annually, with each failed certification freezing 12.5 percent of foreign aid. Already failing their previous certification, Colombia stands to lose 25 percent of U.S. aid, approximately $70-80 million this year. In order to certify, the State Department consults with human rights groups to verify that five specific conditions are being met – (1) the suspension of military personnel who have committed human rights abuses, (2) the thorough investigation, prosecution, and punishment of military personnel who commit human rights abuses, (3) cooperation between armed forces and civilian prosecutors, (4) progress in severing links between the armed forces and paramilitaries, and (5) the dismantlement of paramilitary leadership and financial networks. Despite criticism from human rights groups, and the fact that the State Department has certified Colombia only once since the beginning of 2004, many believe that another certification is imminent.

Upcoming Events and Seminars in the U.S.

A number of church groups and human rights organizations are sponsoring an international conference entitled, “Partnering for Peace: Colombia and U.S. Communities in Solidarity,” in Chicago on October 21-23, 2005 . This conference aims to educate participants, develop strategies for building lasting community relationships between Colombia and the U.S. , and forge partnerships between U.S. groups and Colombian villages, churches, and organizations. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.chicagoans.net/conference2005 or contact John Lindsay-Poland at the Fellowship of Reconciliation at (415) 495-6334 or at forlatam@igc.org .

Colombia This Week is reproduced with the kind permission of the ABColombia Group in London

Fri 22 – Facing criticism, Uribe signs impunity law; European Union announces aid for Colombia .

• Facing criticism that he is being too lenient with the paramilitary groups, President Uribe has mounted a diplomatic offensive to win international support for legislation that grants light sentences to some of this country's most notorious criminals in exchange for demobilising. On Friday, Uribe signed a controversial bill that critics say will allow members of paramilitaries engaged in peace talks with the government to get off with as little as 22 months in prison and avoid extradition to the United States. The legislation and Uribe's government have come under fire from US lawmakers and human rights groups who fear that it will set the wrong precedent in Colombia 's protracted civil war involving the paramilitaries, the government and left-wing guerrillas. "Nobody likes the Justice and Peace law here," said Adam Isacson, Colombia director for the Washington-based Centre for International Policy, which supports demilitarisation of the conflict. "Whether you care about human rights or whether you care about narco-trafficking, there's something in there to hate", Los Angeles Times reports.
• The office of the European Union in Colombia announces the launching of its European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (IEDDH) for this year. Through this programme the UE office plans to fund small projects in the departments of Nariño and Cauca focussing on fighting impunity and reinforcing civilian institutions and the democratic system. The initiative plans to implement local programmes with up to € 435,000 (US $530,178) next year, the EU office in Colombia reports.

Sat 23 – President calls for control of paramilitary areas; FARC launches offensive in Putumayo.

• President Uribe orders his military commanders to quickly take control of areas being abandoned by paramilitary militias. Uribe also appealed to residents in areas dominated by the paramilitaries ‘to co-operate with security forces to help restore the rule of law. "Defending the civilian population in all these zones that the terrorists are abandoning requires a great alliance between the security forces and the population," Uribe said in a speech at a military ceremony in Bogota. The president made the comments after he signed into law a bill that provides a legal framework to a peace process with the paramilitary umbrella United Self-defence Forces, (AUC). Critics say the law, which grants reduced prison terms and other generous concessions to warlords who disarm, effectively lets killers and drug traffickers off the hook, Associated Press reports.
• The FARC guerrillas launched fresh attacks against key infrastructure in the oil-producing fields of Putumayo. Separately, rebels also blew up a key bridge and three energy grids leaving 300,000 people without electricity, police report. Col. Humberto Guatibonza, the police chief in Putumayo state, blamed the attacks on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, El Tiempo reports.

Sun 24 – Government offers to buy illegal coca in Meta; Five peasants killed by FARC in Choco.

• President Uribe Velez says in a speech in Villavicencio (Meta) that farmers would have to sign a document promising to never again cultivate illegal crops in order to get the money. The government would destroy the purchased crop. "Hand over the coca and take the cash, similar to a country fair: Hand over the pig, take the cash," Uribe said in its weekly ‘community meeting’ surrounded by peasants from the region. The price would be negotiated at the point of sale. Uribe said the decision was made after the government analysed the situation of hundreds of poor farmers in the area, where the Colombian army has been locked in a two-year military offensive against the FARC group. The program is so far only available in the central Meta region, officials later said. Uribe did not say what the government would do with the coca it bought but authorities routinely burn seized narcotics, Reuters reports.
• Members of the FARC reportedly shot five peasants to death in an attack against a Colombian jungle village of Pava in Choco, on a key smuggling route for arms and weapons near the border with Panama. Another 14 people are missing after the attack, which took place some time over the past few days, Reuters reports.

Mon 25- IACHR women rights rapporteur visits Colombia; Le Figaro: Uribe absolbs paramilitaries

• The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Susana Villaran reports the worsening situation that women are facing in Colombia. After completing a visit to Colombia this week to evaluate the impact of the armed conflict on Colombian women and visited Bogota, Valledupar and Quibdo. She voiced the concerns presented by the civil society about the absence of an integrated public policy that considers the impact of the armed conflict on the rights of women. This context of impunity perpetuates the treatment of women as spoils of war by the armed actors. The Colombian State is obliged to apply due diligence to prevent, sanction and eradicate violence and discrimination against women, already worsened by the armed conflict, the statement notes.
• An article in French newspaper Le Figaro accuses President Uribe Velez of ‘absolving paramilitary commanders by signing the so called ‘Justice and Peace Law’. In an extensive analysis of the law, the paper refers to the controversial legislation as an instrument to guarantee that some of the biggest war criminals in Colombia’s armed conflict will walk free without long jail sentences and they will also soon be able to participate in politics in the short term. It also argues that paramilitaries control more than 40% of the drug trafficking in Colombia and that they have also infiltrated state institutions.
• In a new scandal concerning involvement in drug trafficking by Colombian army personnel, Colombian daily El Tiempo has learned that on 10 th June four soldiers were detained in Vistahermosa (Meta) after a search on their belongings while they were returning from a military campaign. The soldiers belonged to the 40 th Battalion of the Colombian army, El Tiempo reports.

Tues 26- FARC attacks army position, 11 killed; US urges prosecution of human rights violators.

• Seven Colombian soldiers were killed in a fire fight with the FARC after they had hunted them down on mountain paths leading toward the capital Bogota, the Colombian army reports. Specialised mountain troops, who marched down slopes 60 miles southeast of Bogota also killed four members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in the battle after a tip-off, the army said. "While carrying out the offensive, which avoided attacks on civilians and economic infrastructure in Meta province, seven soldiers were murdered," army commander Gen. Reinaldo Castellanos said, El Tiempo reports.
• Colombia must aggressively prosecute human rights atrocities and ensure that right-wing paramilitaries who are guilty of murder are brought to justice, top US government official reports. US under-secretary of state for political affairs, Nicholas Burns, told Reuters he expected "tough" implementation of the government's new law governing the dismantling of the country's violent, drug-running militias. "We think it has to be implemented in a very aggressive, very tough way, because, while peace is the reason for a programme like this, justice is important as well," the official said following a Bogota news conference after a two-day visit to Bogota, Hugh Bronstein reports for Reuters.
• The National Agrarian Co-ordination (CNA) denounces the assassination of trade unionist Jose Trinidad Torres Muñoz, member of the CNA national committee and activist in several local community organisations. According to the reports he was killed by masked man in the municipality of Teorama, as he was returning to the town of Ocaña in Norte de Santander, after carrying out his role in defence of peasant communities. CNA demands a full investigation of this crime and the involvement of the reportedly demobilised Catatumbo Block of the AUC, allegedly demobilised, UK-based Colombia Solidarity Campaign reports.

Weds 27 –ELN wary of government peace overture; Government seeks hostages' release.

• Colombia is trying to woo the ELN group into peace talks, but the guerrillas said it would be "difficult" to discuss a cease-fire with this government. Uribe Velez this month asked the National Liberation Army to meet in a foreign country to negotiate an agreement to stop the group’s campaign of kidnapping and bombing of oil pipelines, the government said. The ELN issued a statement reacting cautiously to the overture from Uribe: "Peace is not a matter of demobilisation, nor of disarming the insurgency," said the ELN statement, which also accuses Uribe of ignoring the 60-percent Colombian poverty rate that fuels the conflict, Colprensa reports.
• The Colombian government has announced its willingness to hold talks with the FARC in order to exchange imprisoned guerrillas for hostages held by the armed group. The change in policy was made after president Uribe met the families of the kidnapped. Peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said: "The president has given me instructions to meet the FARC in whatever site, day or hour they desire with the security they require." Families of the kidnapped congratulated the government, expressing hope that the talks could free their loved ones, some of whom have been in captivity for five years. The offer of talks comes after a number of small signs of co-operation from the FARC. In what it called a move of good faith to promote the exchange, they released a kidnapped soldier this month. French officials met the rebels to try to secure the release of the Green party politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped early in 2002, BBC reports.
• Colombia's ambassador to the United States has been elected president of the Inter-American Development Bank, (IDB). The bank’s governors chose Luis Alberto Moreno over candidates from Brazil and Venezuela and aspirants from Peru and Nicaragua. Moreno, a former minister of economic development in Colombia, will take up his duties in October, succeeding Enrique Iglesias, El Espectador reports.

Thurs 28- Soldiers killed in ambush in Putumayo; Navarro: ‘war will last as long as rural poverty’.

• Two more soldiers have been killed and four more injured in an ambush in Putumayo, as the FARC sustains their offensive in the entire Putumayo department. Army commander Gen. Edgar Ledesma reports the FARC’s offensive is aimed at forcing the military to divert its already stretched forces from attacking rebel camps and other hard targets in south Colombia. The few commercial flights on small planes out of Puerto Asis are booked solid. Motorists are afraid to drive on rural roads. Even though numerous oil wells dot the state and a pipeline runs through it, gasoline stations are mostly dry. "Up to the moment, it's chaotic," said Victor Alfonso Montenegro, general manager of Contramayo Ltd., a regional bus company based in Puerto Asis. He said the FARC travel ban was in effect indefinitely for all of Putumayo's highways, El Tiempo reports.
• ‘Colombia will never end its 41-year-old war without providing land for poor peasants now tempted to become rebels or grow cocaine crops’, pre-candidate from the leftist Independent Democratic Pole (PDI), Antonio Navarro argues . "The Colombian conflict has its deepest roots in the countryside, and without winning over the peasants we are never going to solve that conflict," said Navarro; "If we don't do that, we can send in more army brigades, more helicopters, and we're never going to end the conflict," he said in an allusion to President Uribe, who has increased military spending and boosted troop numbers by a third, Reuters reports.
• Ombudsman for the Choco department, Victor Mosquera, reports the arrival of six afro-Colombian loggers and their families in the municipality of Bahia Solano, on the Pacific coast of Choco. Last week authorities in Riosucio reported the kidnapping of a group of 20 people that were kidnapped by the FARC group in the area, fearing for their lives as they were previously threaten by this armed group, El Colombiano reports.

Colombia This Week is a news summary produced and distributed by ABColombia Group. Sources include daily Colombian, US, European and Latin American newspapers, and reports from non-governmental organisations and the UN System. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the ABColombia Group.

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