Pubdate: Mon, 01 Apr 2002
Source: International Herald-Tribune (France)
Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2002
Contact:  http://www.iht.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212
Author: Ludwig Volmer, and Denis MacShane
Note: The writers are the deputy foreign ministers of Germany and
Britain responsible for Latin America. They contributed this comment
to the International Herald Tribune.

THE EU AND THE UN CAN HELP A NEW APPROACH TO PEACE

LONDON - Colombia should have everything in its favor. An Atlantic and 
Pacific coastline, the wealth of oil, coal, diamonds and coffee, a rich 
potential for tourism and a long history of respect for democratic 
institutions should make the country a model Latin American nation. 
Instead, Colombia has a long history of violence: 40,000 have been killed 
in nearly four decades of guerrilla and paramilitary violence. Illegal 
armed groups routinely kidnap, take hostages, commit murder and extortion, 
and show unrestricted contempt for international humanitarian law, both 
against the civilian population and against their political opponents.

In some distant past the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as 
FARC, and the National Liberation Army or ELN proclaimed some social 
left-wing purpose, but today they have no democratic legitimacy and sustain 
their livelihood through open complicity in the drugs trade and other 
illegal activities, at the same time maintaining and extending their 
military power through a flow of smuggled arms.

While negotiations are continuing with ELN, the FARC have talked peace 
while preparing for war. The latest cold-blooded kidnapping of a Colombian 
senator and the green presidential candidate show FARC's love of violence 
and terror. President Andres Pastrana's assertion of government control 
over the zone run by FARC has the clear support of the Colombian people and 
the EU.

But as guerrilla violence has increased there has been an opposite and 
equal reaction from the murderous paramilitaries, the Colombian United 
Self-Defense Forces or AUC. The AUC offers "protection" to some ranch 
owners and rural businessmen of Colombia and there is still much evidence 
of collusion with elements in the armed forces. But like the guerrilla 
groups, the AUC now exists only for itself. It has flows of money from the 
drug producers who control large tracts of land. These illegally armed 
groups have wrought death and destruction across the nation.

The tragedy of Colombia is that it is a country with a relatively weak 
state apparatus, especially in some isolated rural areas. Too many ordinary 
Colombians do not have access to basic services including health and 
justice. The gap between rich and poor has grown, making it easier for some 
to fall victim to the drug business or to be swept into the ranks of the 
guerrillas and AUC.

Many parts of Colombia have never known the first stage of rule of law. 
Although the Colombian army and police are now more professional and better 
equipped than ever before, they are still pressed to provide adequate 
security guarantees for all. Strengthening the legitimate and properly 
accountable forces of law and order is crucial to resolving Colombia's long 
running internal conflict.

There are more than 200 municipalities without a police presence. The army 
and police forces are still under-equipped. The inadequacy of the state 
apparatus means that enforcement of human rights norms is hard to achieve.

In short, what are missing are the means to take on the challenge of the 
guerrillas and the paramilitary to the rule of law and to democratic 
institutions. This is why the United Nations and the European Union, which 
reject simplistic answers to complex violence, must become more involved

There can be no military solution to the internal divisions of Colombia. A 
new approach is needed, including these elements:

Stronger measures on both the demand and supply side to tackle illicit drug 
production and consumption.

UN efforts to stop illegal small arms production and exporting must be 
strengthened, and the flow of so-called precursor chemicals to Colombia 
must be limited.

Colombia needs more economic aid, more investment, more multinational firms 
offering real jobs and managed according to the norms of internationally 
accountable business.

Colombians who have fled their nation to live in Miami and Europe need to 
show patriotism and bring their skills and the capital back home. None of 
this will happen, though, until the illegal armed groups renounce all violence.

Urban poverty must be tackled by economic growth and social investment to 
dry up the wells of recruitment for both the guerrillas and the AUC. This 
is where the EU will spend its money.

Europe will work hard for peace in Colombia. The EU's Common Foreign and 
Security Policy demands engagement with Latin America. We believe that the 
causes of national and international crime and political or 
pseudo-political terror need to be tackled.

But Europe will no longer tolerate those who chose violence, nor have the 
European left-wing parties any more solidarity for erstwhile 
revolutionaries who have long since mutated into violent, self serving, 
cynical groups.

A prosperous, peaceful and socially just Colombia will benefit the whole 
Andean region. The EU and its member states will continue to show 
solidarity with all those in Colombia and elsewhere searching for peace and 
promoting rule of law.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart