SOA Graduate Cited in Parapolitica Scandal

The government of Colombian president Alvaro Uribe continues to be plagued by the parapolítica ("parapolitics") scandal, in which some 60 members of Congress have been linked to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a rightwing paramilitary group that is now officially demobilized. The majority of these politicians are in Uribe's governing coalition, and some are in the president's extended family. On August 12, 2008, a former paramilitary, Luis Adrián Palacio ("Diomedes"), gave testimony to the Attorney General's Office linking Gen. Mario Montoya, the head of the Colombian military and a graduate and former instructor at the School of the Americas, to the AUC. Diomedes said that in April 2002 Montoya, who then commanded the Army's Fourth Brigade, personally delivered a "present" of six AK-47 rifles and an M-16 rifle to the AUC's Bloque Mineros. Montoya denies the charge.

An agreement between Uribe and the administration of US president George Bush has helped diffuse the scandal. Some paramilitary leaders are now being extradited to the US to stand trial for drug trafficking, and many analysts think this will keep Colombian investigators from getting valuable information about paramilitary links to politicians. Ever Veloza ("H.H."), former leader of the Bloques Calima and Bananero paramilitary units, has begun to talk about these ties, and Senator Gustavo Petro (himself threatened with investigation in the farcpolítica scandal) is urging Uribe to hold up Veloza's extradition until he has told his story. SOA Watch along with 25 other international organizations denounced the extraditions as a ploy by the US and Colombian governments to deny justice to the victims of crimes in Colombia. The US-based Colombia Support Network (CSN) is asking for letters to US attorney general Mukasey (AskDOJ@usdoj.gov) and Colombian attorney general Dr. Mario Hernán Iguarán Arana (contacto@fiscalia.gov.co) "urging them to place a hold on extradition until the human rights violation stories can be told."

Source: Weekly News Update on the Americas, (212)674-9499,
weeklynewsupdate@gmail.com.

Another Trade and War Connection in the Americas

The Americas Policy Program has put together and excellent Primer on Plan Mexico. The report written by Laura Carlsen puts forward detailed analysis regarding the policy, its background and what needs to change. This policy as part of the expansion of NAFTA is a clear connection to what we have been talking about for the past few years on this site, mainly that trade and war are companion policies. Just as Plan Colombia is a failed policy which is now accompanied by an unjust trade agreement so are Plan Mexico and the expansion of NAFTA. Following is a summary of the Primer and a link to the entire document.

Plan Mexico
The Bush Administration has put its proposal to militarize Mexico into the upcoming Iraq supplemental bill. On Oct. 22, 2007 President Bush announced the $1.4 billion dollar “Merida Initiative” (nicknamed Plan Mexico)--a security aid package to Mexico and Central America. The initiative has fatal flaws in its strategy; instead of leading to a stable bi-national relationship and peaceful border communities, its military approach will escalate drug-related violence and human rights abuses.

The NAFTA Connection
The Bush administration’s concept of a joint security strategy for North America came to the forefront under the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) as an extension of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). When the three North American leaders met in Waco, Texas in March of 2005, they put into motion a secretive process of negotiations between members of the executive branches and representatives of large corporations to facilitate cross-border business and create a shared security perimeter. Subsequent meetings including the April 2008 trilateral summit in New Orleans extended these goals in total secrecy amid mounting criticism.

Secrecy
In this context, instead of reviewing polices and opening them up to public debate, the Bush administration has launched its boldest advance yet within the SPP context—Plan Mexico. Speculation was that the Plan would be announced at the Montebello SPP meeting in August of 2007, but perhaps because of the presence of SPP protestors at that meeting President Bush delayed the official unveiling of the “Merida Initiative” several months. However, the last two SPP meetings have included discussions of Plan Mexico and the State Department has been clear about the link.

Plan Colombia All Over Again
The experience of Plan Colombia reveals the pitfalls of Plan Mexico. Plan Colombia is a similar U.S. military aid package designed to fight the drug war. Since its inception in 2000, it has contributed to entrenched violence and corruption in that South American country while failing to reduce drug flows to the United States.

To read the rest of the Primer please click here.

Extrajudicial Executions Carried Out by State Agents Are Increasing in Colombia

In the five years between July 1997 and June 2002, according to the Colombian human rights groups’ collective database, a total of 577 extrajudicial executions were perpetrated by state agents. During the five years from July 2002 through June 2007, the rate of extrajudicial executions by state agents increased by nearly 66%, with a total of 955 cases. The Miami Herald reported on this today, click here for more. More reason to not certify Colombia to receive the remaining aid from last year or sign the trade agreement.