Washington Watch
Redirect Funds, Redirect Lives
by Catherine Gordon
Children watch soldiers patrolling in Arauca,
Colombia. For three days in July, 2003, President Alvaro Uribe
transferred the seat of government from Bogota to Arauca, one
of the nation's hottest war zones, to prove that the government
is in control.
As the world's
attention turns toward the Middle East and the "War on Terror,"
the desperate situation in Colombia continues to deteriorate.
The civil war between the paramilitaries, the rebel groups and
the Colombian Army causes the suffering of millions of innocent
men, women and children---three million of whom have been displaced
by the violence.
The roots of the conflict in Colombia are economic and political.
Rather than assisting in alleviating the economic hardships in
the country through alternative development programs and social
aid, the United States government poured millions of dollars
in military aid into this chaotic situation. Since 1997 the United
States has given more than $2 billion in aid to Colombia---85
percent of which has been military and only 7 percent for alternative
development. The Colombian military, the recipient of this aid,
has documented ties to the brutal paramilitary groups who were
responsible for 71 percent of human rights violations against
civilians between June 2001 and July 2002. This emphasis on militarization
has only served to increase violence and further destabilize
Colombia.
Members of Congress have begun to realize that given the size
of the aid package and the complexity of the conflict, there
is a need for serious debate on aid to Colombia. President Bush
has requested an additional $700 million for Colombia for 2004
with only $150 million going to social and economic programs.
Catherine Gordon is the associate for international issues
for the Presbyterian Washington Office.
Call or write to your representative and senators expressing
your concern about deepening involvement in Colombia. You can
reach your representative via the Capitol Switchboard, 202/224-3121
or online at www.congress.org.
Participate in the Ecumenical Advocacy Days on Global Peacemaking,
March 5--8, 2004, in Washington, D.C. Colombia will be a key
issue. For more information contact Catherine Gordon, cgordon@ctr.pcusa.org
or 202/543-1126.
Start a small discussion group in your church or have a church
class discuss the Colombian issue as well as others. Contact
Catherine Gordon for current resources.
Participate in a delegation to Colombia with Witness for Peace.
Learn more about Witness for Peace and their programs, www.witnessforpeace.org
or 202/588-1471.
For more information, contact the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington,
DC 20002; 202/543-1126; fax 202/543-7755; www.pcusa.org.
Read more of this and other
great articles in the current issue of Horizons.
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