Pubdate: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 Source: Observer, The (UK) Copyright: 2005 The Observer Contact: http://www.observer.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315 Author: Bee Rowlatt Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n533/a06.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) NO 'FAIR TRADE' IN DRUG SMUGGLING It's great that David Aaronovitch (Comment, last week) says that the film Maria Full of Grace made him think about ordinary Colombians placed in danger by being 'mules', transporting cocaine out of the country at huge risk to their own health. But the 'human cost of the drugs trade' is far worse than that. Colombia's civil war has cost the lives of millions of civilians over four decades, and it is perpetuated by the drugs trade. Both sides (the guerrilla movements and the right-wing paramilitaries) are directly funded by cocaine, both protecting and profiting from its trade. It is blatantly described as a 'tax'. Both sides are wealthy, state-of-the-art movements, with sophisticated satellite communications and military hardware. More than two million Colombians have fled their homes, internally displaced by violence and massacres (UNHCR). Many more have left the country altogether. Furthermore, Colombia's drug-dealing armed groups are among the worst violators of international norms against use of child soldiers. Bee Rowlatt London NW3 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D