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Plan Colombia. Promoting Peace Combating the Narcotics Industry Reviving the Colombian Economy Strengthening Democracy. Introduction. Who, Where, When, Why?. Proposed by Pastrana 1998 – 1999 Elaborated by the Colombian Government to: End armed conflict Revitalize the economy
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Plan Colombia Promoting Peace Combating the Narcotics Industry Reviving the Colombian Economy Strengthening Democracy
Who, Where, When, Why? • Proposed by Pastrana 1998 – 1999 • Elaborated by the Colombian Government to: • End armed conflict • Revitalize the economy • Develop and anti-narcotics strategy • FARC Guerrillas
Original Plan “Plan for Colombia’s Peace” • Pastrana’s Proposal • Achieve Peace and End Violence • Similar to the “Marshall Plan” • “Drug crops are a social problem whose solution must pass through the solution to the armed conflict...Developed countries should help us to implement some sort of 'Marshall Plan' for Colombia, which will allow us to develop great investments in the social field, in order to offer our peasants different alternatives to the illicit crops.” • 55% military aid, 45% development aid • Talks with Clinton on aid in 1999
The New Plan • “War on Drugs” • American Contribution • Combating Drug Trafficking • Strengthening the Military, 78.12% of aid in 2000 • Campaigns against FARC rebels • Support for Police • Other International Actors • Provide support for social programs
U.S. Assistance – 5 Pillars • Support for Human Rights/Judicial Reform • Expansion of Counter-Narcotics Operations in Southern Colombia • Alternative Economic Development • Increased Interdiction • Assistance for Colombian National Police
The Original Plan • The plan originally required $7.5 billion • Colombia was to provide $4.9 billion of it • The U.S. under Clinton pledged $1.3 billion in foreign aid, most of it for military use • The rest was to be provided by EU donors or NGOs
Problems with Financing • The EU was reluctant to contribute because they were uncertain to the plan’s success • Other donors disapproved of the military portion of the package, as approved by the U.S. • Colombia itself was unable to earmark all that it had planned to because of an economic crisis from 1999-2001
Financing the New Plan • With U.S. influence, the final draft of the plan concentrates much more on drug trafficking and training the military • Fighting the FARC guerillas is a focus of the plan • This is contrary to President Pastrana’s wishes, who recognizes FARC as part of Colombian history and wants to treat them as such • Approx. 78% of the U.S. aid package of 2000 focused on counternarcotics and military uses
Funding Allocation • As part of the “war on drugs”, the funding goes to uses such as: • Training and equipment for Colombian antinarcotics teams • Helicopters and transport • Intelligence assistance • Coca eradication equipment
U.S. Aid to Colombia Source: The Heritage Foundation
Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration- 2001 • Aid is expanded to surrounding countries • Worried about expanding drug operations into poor boarder areas • Appropriates $676 million for Counter drug Initiative • $380 million given directly to Colombia
Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration - 2001 • Civilian contractors now carry military weapons • Claim to be protecting personnel and military equipment • Funding of social programs in Colombia • Crop development, improve human rights, create jobs • Congress rejects plan to fund reductions campaigns in the USA • Why not curb demand?
Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration – 2004 • Appropriated $727 million to Counter Drug Initiative • $463 million given directly to Colombia • Military Advisors are increased from 400 to 800 people • Private contractors are increased from 400 to 600 people
Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration - 2005 • Six years after implementation approximately $4.5 billion has been spent • “Not the end or even the beginning of the end, but possibly the end of the beginning.” - Churchill
Results according to US Government • Coca production going down • Military Presence increase in Columbia • Third largest recipient in US aid • US Military in Columbia
Winning the War on Drugs? • FARC’s existence in Columbia today • US Defense Department study • Price increase for cocaine? • Just stopping the flow? • Balloon effect? • Mexico
The Human Rights consequences • Straying from original goals • Leahy Provision • Continuing support despite regime’s record • Too much military strength? • After Columbian resources?
The Columbian People • Turmoil in the country • Quasi civil war • Aerial fumigation • Herbicides on legal crops • Providing economic alternatives? • Concentration of wealth in upper classes
Questions • Should the next administration continue to support the Colombian government as well as the Bush administration has? • Should the US be doing more than just sending money? If so, what else should be done? Or should the U.S. discontinue support for the plan? • How effective do you think the plan has been, both in Colombia and at home?
Credits • This presentation has been brought to you by: • Lisa Bothwell • Andrea Eisaman • Tara Krzyzewski • Hrishi Shah