Present Day Present Day Conflicts in Conflicts in ColombiaColombia

Ariel Holman, Stacy Skiftenes Ariel Holman, Stacy Skiftenes and Lisa Williamsand Lisa Williams

ColombiaColombia

Population: 43.8 millionPopulation: 43.8 million Just over 1 million sq. Just over 1 million sq.

kilometers (3x Montana)kilometers (3x Montana) Geography: lowlands, Geography: lowlands,

highlands, Andes, plainshighlands, Andes, plains 90% Roman Catholic90% Roman Catholic Independence: July 20, Independence: July 20,

18101810

Colombian GovernmentColombian Government

Republic GovernmentRepublic Government Power divided among 3 branchesPower divided among 3 branches

• ExecutiveExecutive• LegislativeLegislative• JudicialJudicial

President Álvaro Uribe VélezPresident Álvaro Uribe Vélez

Elected May 2002Elected May 2002 Predecessor Predecessor

Pastrana’s PolicyPastrana’s Policy Uribe’s Hardline Uribe’s Hardline

PolicyPolicy

Drugs in ColombiaDrugs in Colombia

World supplyWorld supply 80% cocaine80% cocaine 30% heroin30% heroin

Cocaine base Cocaine base imported from Peru, imported from Peru, Bolivia, but also Bolivia, but also locally grownlocally grown

HeroinHeroin 8 metric tons yearly8 metric tons yearly Most to United StatesMost to United States

More on drugs…More on drugs…

Nearly 200,000 hectares of land to coca and opiumNearly 200,000 hectares of land to coca and opium Both crops and laboratories spread throughout the Both crops and laboratories spread throughout the

countrycountry Concern with exportation, but also domestic Concern with exportation, but also domestic

concernsconcerns

Drug Flow/TrafficDrug Flow/Traffic

CocaineCocaine Commercial maritime vesselsCommercial maritime vessels General aviation aircraftGeneral aviation aircraft

HeroinHeroin Human couriers on commercial airlinesHuman couriers on commercial airlines

CartelsCartels Much less centrally organizedMuch less centrally organized Use of technology instead of physical meetingsUse of technology instead of physical meetings

Control EffortsControl Efforts 1991-19991991-1999

3,261 cocaine labs destroyed3,261 cocaine labs destroyed 80 heroin labs destroyed80 heroin labs destroyed

1998: 2000 arrests1998: 2000 arrests

PLAN ColombiaPLAN Colombia

Designed and Designed and implemented by implemented by Presidente PastranaPresidente Pastrana

Projects worth $7.5 Projects worth $7.5 billionbillion

Five Aims of PLAN ColombiaFive Aims of PLAN Colombia

PeacePeace Colombian economyColombian economy Anti-narcotic strategyAnti-narcotic strategy Reform of justice Reform of justice

system/protection of system/protection of human rightshuman rights

Democratization and Democratization and social developmentsocial development

Effects of PLAN ColombiaEffects of PLAN Colombia

Citizen’s viewsCitizen’s views

"We are (telling) peasants "We are (telling) peasants to grow legal crops that to grow legal crops that must be transported on must be transported on vehicles they do not vehicles they do not have, over roads that do have, over roads that do not exist, to sell in not exist, to sell in domestic and domestic and international markets to international markets to which they do not have which they do not have access," says Sanho access," says Sanho TreeTree

““La Violencia” 1946-1964La Violencia” 1946-1964

Political conflict Political conflict between liberals and between liberals and conservativesconservatives

1948-1953 (most 1948-1953 (most desctructive years): desctructive years): 80-400,00 killed80-400,00 killed

Extends through Extends through 1980’s1980’s Colombia: highest Colombia: highest

homicide rate in LAhomicide rate in LA 245/100,000 persons245/100,000 persons

FARC: Fuerzas Armadas FARC: Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de ColombiaRevolucionarios de Colombia

15-18,000 members15-18,000 members Responsible for Responsible for

kidnappings that target kidnappings that target landowners, tourists, landowners, tourists, and officialsand officials

Formed: 1966Formed: 1966 Originally communistOriginally communist Controls 1/3 of countryControls 1/3 of country Control over cocoa Control over cocoa

cropscrops

ELN: Ejército de Liberación ELN: Ejército de Liberación NacionálNacionál

2nd largest: 5000 2nd largest: 5000 membersmembers

Trans-Andean oil Trans-Andean oil pipeline bombings pipeline bombings since 1986since 1986

Kidnapping for ransomKidnapping for ransom Bombing and extortionBombing and extortion Funding: ransom, Funding: ransom,

taxes, drug tradetaxes, drug trade

Shared GoalsShared Goals

Represent the rural Represent the rural poorpoor

Oppose American Oppose American influenceinfluence

Oppose privitization Oppose privitization of resourcesof resources

Oppose multinational Oppose multinational corporationscorporations

Decry rightist violenceDecry rightist violence

AUC: Autodefensas Unidas AUC: Autodefensas Unidas de Colombiade Colombia

Organization of Organization of several right-wing several right-wing paramilitary groupsparamilitary groups

Supported by Supported by landowners, drug-landowners, drug-cartels, parts of cartels, parts of Colombian militaryColombian military

Paramilitary groups Paramilitary groups outlawed in 1989outlawed in 1989

AUC continued…AUC continued…

AUC favors…AUC favors… Respect for public propertyRespect for public property End to kidnappings and extortionEnd to kidnappings and extortion Recognition as a political groupRecognition as a political group Further negotiations with guerillas and governmentFurther negotiations with guerillas and government

Targets leftist guerilla groups, citizens with leftist Targets leftist guerilla groups, citizens with leftist sympathies, trade-union members, human-rights sympathies, trade-union members, human-rights activistsactivists

Originated with “Death to Kidnappers” groupOriginated with “Death to Kidnappers” group 2001: AUC killed at least 1,015 civilians2001: AUC killed at least 1,015 civilians

AUC continued…AUC continued…

Thanks for listening!Thanks for listening!