Colombia’s sovereignty will beblatantly violated by the United States very soon. This will officially take place when the militarization process, which is euphemistically called “cooperation agreements”, allowing US troops to use Colombian bases, is signed. However, things have changed and this time the US has not invaded – or “liberated,” as it has been known since 2003 - Colombia. This agreement was conducted with explicit approval and self-interest of the national government.
The Colombian ruling class and their supporters have readily embraced this cooperation agreement that would give Carte Blanche with total immunity (or impunity) to US troops and civilian contractors for the utilization of three Colombian bases - the government had actually offered five - for an initial period of ten years. Other incentives may include exemption from environmental laws, paying for environmental damages, and clean up exercises, things that Okinawa (Japan) knows too well.
As is normal with dubious and dangerous agreements this has been marred with secrecy. It has not only totally disregarded Congress in a clear violation to the Constitution but also some government officials. For instance, the Colombian ambassador to the US, Carolina Barco, failed to answer simple questions regarding these so-called “negotiations” in a radio interview. It is important to clarify that these are impositions rather than negotiations since Colombia has never had any leverage in negotiations with the US and with the current Colombian government this could not be truer.
The Interior and Justice Minister, Fabio Valencia Cossio, has remarked that “[the agreement] does not authorize [US forces] to attack other countries, which is what the constitution says.” However, it is difficult to trust a Minister who thinks the Constitution is written on a white board and can be altered as the government deems necessary to remain in power. This so-called Justice Minister naturally does not have any objections regarding the immunity granted since he proposed immunity to Colombia's law makers. Nevertheless, this is also a sticky point for many reasons among them the cases of rape by US servicemen, which has already taken place in Colombia.
Colombian Foreign Minister, Jaime Bermúdez, noted Wednesday, after repeated calls for information, that “the objective [of this agreement] is the fight and the end of drug-trafficking and terrorism...and activities against the Colombian Constitution or international law would not be permitted.” Incidentally, the US has been losing the wars on drugs and terror since 1971 and 2001 respectively. More difficult still is to believe that the US will not utilize its bases in any way that serve its interests. After all, the CIA kidnapped and transported up to 100 terrorist suspects via European airports to third countries to face torture after 2001, in clear violations to these countries’ laws and international law.
Bermúdez forgets that the US has been heavily involved in these two fronts (drugs and terrorism) with limited success. The amount of cocaine entering the US has remained steady and coca production have decreased for other reasons, among them manual eradication. Successful operations against the FARC were possible thanks to US technology, but unfortunately the group is far from finished. Nevertheless, this is the strategy the US has taught the Colombian ruling class; perpetual wars will always serve their interests. Let's not forget that the guerrilla does not represent the same danger to civilians that paramilitaries and the army do with their massacres, para-politics scandals and extrajudicial killings.
Allowing US troops to freely use Colombian soil is not for the benefit of Colombians, but in the interest of the US. After all, the US has relied on its more than 700 military bases around the world to further and protect its economic interests, which by definition are against the majority of the population in these countres. Latin America - or the backyard of the US as the Monroe Doctrine determined in 1823 - is a land with vast natural resources, thus strategically important. More vital still as more independent governments sprout in the region. In consequence, at a time when the region has started to recover their dignity and commenced the formation of important regional blocks such as UNASUR, Colombia is bound to become more isolated.
This “cooperation agreement” - like the FTA, which will now be definately signed - is clearly not in the best interests of Colombia. The independence that other countries have achieved, not only militarily, but also economically in order to pursue more socially just societies is the independence that Colombia's traditional elite has decided to dismiss. Unfortunately, it seems the country would remain at the mercy of the interests of the US aligned with those of the Colombian elite for some time to come.
After thought: Colombian culture is not only cruel to innocent indigenous, Afro-Colombians and peasants, displaced peasants, the poor youth, the forgotten by society, bulls and roosters but now also to hippopotamuses!
Author Sebastian Castaneda is Colombian and lives in Hong Kong
tomtom33
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... Most of all, let us not forget that left-wing whack jobs are alive and well. If it weren't for the guerilla, there would have been no para. Since the FARC has not been finished, maybe we ought to return to the old days and cede part of Colombia to them. Wouldn't that violate sovereignty a little? Of course the US acts in the interest of the US. However, while far from perfect, the US does possess a moral compass. I guarantee that the US will do something with these bases that someone is not going to like. Last I heard, the rocks come with the farm. |
NotAlvaroUribe
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... Most of all, let us not forget that the right-wing neo-liberal whack jobs are alive and well. If it weren't for social injustice, there would have been no guerilla. US has already shown abuses of power and control in many countries throughout the history of Latin America, and its still ongoing today. Lets not forget in November 3, 1903, The US Naval ships blocked and threatened Colombian army troops from entering the Panama region, at the time Colombian territory, preventing Colombia from maintaining its own territorial integrity. The US bought the company working on the canal project and offered Colombia money for control and they turned it down. Roosevelt was furious and quoted "we may have to give a lesson to these jack rabbits". The New Panama Canal Company stockholder meeting in Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York planned plan was to arrange a "revolution" in Panama, with the new, independent government accepting the terms of the sale. |
gringo michae
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... If memeory serves me it was Colombia that offered the use o fthe Bases , it was not by request of the USA, when did a US service man rape some one in Colombia please site the reosource. Notalvarouribe are we to relive the past 200 plus years, should be not live in the present and look toward the future. as for the FARC while a case can be made for thier need back in the 60's that Farc then and the Farc today are two different beast, thousands of Colombians would not be dead or displaced if it wasn't for the Farc of today. |
Sebastian
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... @ gringo michae Welcome back, your comments have been missed. In 2007 a 12 year old girl was raped by two US servicemen, Michael J. Coen and César Ruiz while they were in the military base of Tolemaida. They were never tried because of the immunity they enjoyed. http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/dan-feder/2007/10/us-soldiers-accused-raping-12-year-old-girl-colombia In 2006 there were 23 sexual assaults by US servicemen reported. Of course many cases are never reported. This statistic is gruesome given the relatively low number of US military personnel in the territory at that moment. |
Sebastian
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... Other interested activities US servicemen engage in when they are not helping to “professionalize” Colombian troops and teaching them respect for “human rights": - The wife of an army colonel stationed at the U.S. embassy who smuggled cocaine and heroin back to the U.S. in diplomatic packages and recieved a relative slap on the wrist. - U.S. soldiers smuggling cocaine to North America on military aircraft. - U.S. soldiers stationed at Tolemaida involved in arms deals with paramilitary death squads. - The release of pornographic videotapes made by U.S. soldiers and contractors stationed at Tolemaida featuring several underage girls. More information in the previous link. |
Tattoo015
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... I have been traveling to Colombia for 7 years now, The quality of life has improved greatly. What makes Colombia different than America is your history, culture and values. I strongly advise against increasing the America presence in your country. Over the past 9 years America has declined in so many ways, we are morally bankrupt society, greedy, materialistic, two faced country. |
tomtom33
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... Wow! You mean that criminals exist in the US military? Deviants exist in all segments of society including the priesthood. Damn the US for building that canal. And damn them for being less than right 100% of the time. I have been living in Colombia for 6 years now. The quality of life has improved. And US actions in the areas of tariffs, trade, and support for Colombia have helped spur that improvement. |
gringo michae
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... I have to ask why they have not been arrested , there are clear cases were US military personal have raped in other countries and been charged inthat Country is it a failure of the Colombian Government to act. I disagree that use of Colombian bases by the USA is bad for Colombia, over the past number of years it has shown that both Governments can work together not just for the benifit of one, The US need in Latin america is more that of Drugs then anyhting else, will it solve the problem no. I see it also for a chance for Colombia's Military to see high tech equipment up close, even maybe get trained in it's use. it can be a win win for both sides. |
NotAlvaroUribe
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... @Gringo Relive the past 200 years? NO we learn from it. And don't be so naive as to not think its not going on today in the "present" at a large scale in Latin America. Like the US's IRI and NED funding $1.2 million to Honduran political groups in 2009, and that's just the tip of it. US forces still gives training and uses Honduran military base since 1954, and this was a complete abuse, that same base was employed to launch a coupe against Jacobo Arbenz in '54. |
NotAlvaroUribe
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... @tomtom Wow! I mean that criminals exist in the higher levels of the US military and government. Damn that US for helping to take away the Canal and Panama territory from Colombia so that they can build the canal, and damn them for being less than right 20% of the time. |
Laureles191
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... @notalvarouribe First of all, what kind of a username is that anyway? I could only assume that you are not from Colombia, or especially Medellin if those are your beliefs. How many presidents can say they have had their approval ratings soar over 80% in their second term? Half of my family live in Medellin, and none of them even want to think about remembering what it was like before Alvaro Uribe. Bombings every week. Homicide isn't even a fraction of what it used to be since Uribe has taken office. Economy is thriving and citizens feel safe for the first time in decades. And it's all because of Alvaro Uribe, and his decisions, regardless of whether you agree with his cooperation with the US. Without the US's help, it would not be possible for Colombia to be even remotely as safe as it is right now. But, you're right, lets deny help from the US, put Andres Pastrana back in office, and watch Homicide jump 10,000% and give half the country away in negotiations with the guerillas. |
