June 26, 2000
June 26, 2000
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Human Rights First Calls for Rigorous Conditions
On Military Aid to ColombiaNew York—Human Rights First called on U.S. congressional leaders today to ensure that aid to the Colombian armed forces to help fight the production and distribution of illegal drugs is accompanied by strong human rights conditions.
In letter addressed to congressional leaders seeking to reconcile House and Senate versions of the Colombia aid package, announced by the Clinton administration in January, Human Rights First highlighted the deplorable human rights record of the Colombian armed forces, in particular the problem of armed forces collaboration with outlaw paramilitary armies linked to massive human rights abuses. Much of the $1.3 billion in aid expected to be approved in the final compromise bill this week will go to Colombia's armed forces. The letter urges adoption of the conditions contained in the aid package passed by the Senate last week, rather than the much weaker conditions attached to the House of Representatives version of the aid package. It states that the Senate version would help ensure the U.S. does not indirectly support rights violations that are likely to persist under existing Colombian legislation and practice.
"Good policy options are scarce on Colombia. But several decades of U.S. assistance to Latin American military forces that are complicit in human rights violations should have taught us at least one lesson," said Rob Varenik, Director of Protection at Human Rights First. "When the security forces get a blank check without meaningful accountability, our aid strengthens the armed forces over the civilian institutions they are supposed to defend. We may intend to safeguard democratic institutions, but we may undermine their authority."