Pubdate: Mon, 25 Mar 2002
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Ana Maria Vasquez

HELP END CIVIL WAR IN COLOMBIA

I am a Colombian living here, and I am very concerned about my country's 
situation and the United States' involvement ("Kolbe says Colombia 
terrorists should be next target of U.S.," March 17).

I know our conflict has no easy solution, but the break-up of the peace 
talks between guerrillas and the government is already bringing more death 
and destruction.

U.S. citizens should take action to stop all attempts to increase military 
aid to Colombia under whatever guise (fighting terrorism, stabilizing 
Colombia or protecting oil pipelines).

President Bush is requesting $98 million more in military aid and training 
just for the Colombian Army's 18th Brigade to protect an oil pipeline 
partially operated by Occidental Petroleum.

There are allegations that the 18th Brigade has links to the paramilitary 
groups operating in the region and, thereby, could be implicated in human 
rights violations.

A shift from the failed war-on-drugs policy to a war on terrorism would 
open the floodgates and mean less caution and a greater willingness to 
embroil the United States in what many call a Vietnam- like scenario.

A wiser choice would be to support increased funds for drug treatment in 
the United States and a negotiated end to the civil war in Colombia.

Ana Maria Vasquez

Works with refugees on the Colombian/ Panamanian border
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MAP posted-by: Beth