Forwarded from Anthony (Colombia)

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Colombia Update July 2002

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. Daily life got in the way, and I got
way behind on even reading what is happening on this list.

The situation in Colombia has become much, much graver in the last few weeks.

The FARC, as of today, is demanding the resignation of all government
officials. If they do not resign, they will become military targets.

Dozens of mayors and local officials have already resigned in response to
earlier - more targetted - threats.

The government has responded by placing $2,000,000 (US) rewards on the
heads of all members of the national leadership of the FARC, and
substantial monetary rewards for other leaders of the FARC.

It has also decided to appoint DAS (the Departamento Administrtivo de
Seguridad - equivalent of the CIA and FBI combined into one) to take over
the administratvie duties of the mayors who have resigned.

Although prior to the FARC's demand for resignation a number of mayors,
departmental deputies, one deparmtental governor, one presidential
candidate, and various other officials had been kidnapped, since the
demands the only action that may be related was the assasination of the
wife of the former mayor of San Vicente de Caguan. He resigend when the
FARC demanded, and moved to Bogotá for safetey. He, and his wife, were
supporters of kidnapped peresidential candidate ingrid Betancourt (leader
of the Colombian version of the Greens).

President elect Alvaro Uribe velez is making the rounds internationally,
lining up his chickens and his ducks - and his bucks. 

While he does this, his point man at home is his nominee to take over the
Minstries of Interior and Justice (which will be merged into one ministry).
 This man, Fernando Londoño, has in recent years been the attorney for the
most corrupt politicians of hte country, and for various drug dealers. He
is currently attacking the Supreme Court for being unpatriotic. This legal,
political, and media offensive is designed to prevent his own prosecution
for various crimes and misdemenors he has been accused of committing as an
attorney - and to undermine the Supreme Court as a possible institutional
brake on the actions of the Uribe Velez government.

Uribe Velez supporters say the solution to Colombia's problems is to kill
30 or 40,000 people.

Uribe Velez takes office in August.

Anthony


Louis Proyect
Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org



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