colombia

Amnesty International recently came out with a report on Colombia which I am reading right now. It has received decent press coverage and the trend is changing of how Colombia is viewed, although as noted in the report human rights groups have been saying the same things for decades. Some parts seem conflicting, and many of the recomendations are based on international law rather than a community centered solution. The report did actually say that the conflict is based on land, and that reparations must include the right to return to the land.
Summary:
massive transfer of wealth from small farmars, and collectively owned land frm afro-colombian and indigenous land owners through violence and paramilitary takeovers. This was done in collusion with the justice system that did not rule this illegal or turned a blind eye; politicians were elected with the help of paramilitaries through election fraud and intimidation and thus were bought off from interfering with the violence. Paramilitaries also worked with the security forces and had access to intelligence, the wealth of the state, and impunity. The security forces were often inseperable from the paramilitaries. Businesses and corportations hired them to break up unions, as well as to clear off land for fertile ground. Amnesty cites 4-6 million hectares of land was transfered. ( 1 hectare is equal to ~ 2.5 acres)
There is also evidence of FARC and paramilitary groups acting together to protect drug routes previously fought over.
thoughts on how to fix this: 1. Uribe still doesn't acknowledge that a civil war exists, continues to call the guerrilas terrorists, impunity reigns for demobilized paramilitaries (which most haven't actually demobilized) - the justice system should move forward, because of momentum with over 60 government workers charged or in prison, judges that were previously silenced can take on more cases. (although 15 people havebeen killed that have been associated with the 'justice and peace process in the last five years)
2. the government MUST have a real interest in peace, or else small victories will continue to be an uphill battle and what is needed is large victories, massive reparations and land distribution to its proper owners, inclusion of guerrilas into politics, cleansing of the security forces and trials for those who orchestrated the massive human rights violations. Investment in education, health, and sectors of the economy that benefit rural farmers. Colombia needs a new president that will say no to massive US aid that seeks to increase the military and continue a US presence in the area. most importantly though, the next president should return the stolen land to its rightful owners.
Of more importance,
GO OBAMA! Si se puede! Si se pudo...