The Colombian conflict is an internal armed war that has been going on for more than half a century, approximately originated in the early 1950’s. It is a war between the government, various parliamentary groups and left-wing guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), for the struggle of political power and economic/social rights. Since its origin, the war has involved multiple agendas of power, drugs, violence and greed. It is about time the world takes a serious effort in resolving this ongoing conflict by taking drastic measures in helping Columbia establish intelligence agencies and strengthen local security initiatives for the safety of the citizens, improve human rights throughout the land such as equality and equal access to resources/land, help by abolishing the drug trade, and additionally strengthen the state and the state’s judiciary system in all parts of Colombia.
With continuous devastating violence going on in a country with an uncoordinated and weak state response to such violence, local citizens-security initiatives that promote local enforcement and strengthen the role of civil society groups should be on the top of the priority list. Firstly, the Guerillas such as FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the ELN (National Liberation Army) continue to commit serious abuses against civilians. They are involved in the killing, threats, recruitment of child soldiers and forced displacement. For example, “The FARC and ELN frequently use antipersonnel landmines and other indiscriminate weapons. The government reported 16 civilians killed and 104 injured by landmines and unexploded munitions between January and August 2011. On July 9, 2011, the ...
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...ernment’s inherent inability to form a lasting peace and mitigate the effects of the conflict.
In conclusion, this internal armed conflict that originated in the 1950’s is going on to this very day. The continuous dispute between various parliamentary groups and left-wing guerillas such as the FARC and ELN continue to struggle over political power, drugs and violence. All in all, it is about time the world as a global community takes drastic measures in resolving this horrific ongoing conflict for the benefit of Colombia by helping establish intelligence agencies and strengthening local security initiatives for the safety of the citizens, improve human rights throughout the country such as emphasising equality and equal access to resources/land, help abolish the huge drug trade industry and last but not least strengthen the state and the state’s judiciary system.
Plan Colombia is a long-prevailing foreign aid package bestowed to the country of Colombia from the United States. This foreign aid package grants substantial financial assistance to Colombia, intending to fight the “War on Drugs” and to reduce the trafficking of narcoleptics, but there is a multitude of other factors and implications, both unintentional or indirect and intentional due to ulterior motives. To accomplish the goals of Plan Colombia, most of the aid has been provided in the form of armed forces. This situation is complicated because of the ongoing civil war between the government of Colombia and the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People’s Army (FARC). Additionally making matters difficult has been the strong association of the Colombian military and some right wing paramilitary units. Such conflict in Colombia exacerbates its drug problem, but Plan Colombia allegedly seeks to tame.
While the 200,000 people killed during the 36 years of civil war is a large number the average violent deaths per year has increased to 54,223 in the years between 2000 and 2010 (Birns). The violence is an impact of the civil war leaving behind an inadequate judicial system and a corrupt police force without resolution by Peace Accords. The people now more than ever take matters into their own hands considering the court system leaves “ninety-seven percent of cases unsolved” (Birns). It is even common for many people who do not receive adequate “justice to form lynch mobs or hire assassins”
A series of independence movements had marked most of South America, or “Nueva Granada” in particular during the vast time period of the early 16th century up until the late 18th century – early 19th century. An introduction of the time period which dates back to the late 15th century, illustrates how the Southern portion of the now Colombia had become a part of the Incan Empire whose central base had been located deep into Peru. Only the enlightened historians and those that have done thorough research of the time period have noted the existence concerning the various Indian tribes that roamed freely throughout portions of the land much before the emergence of the Spaniards into the territory.
Colombia has struggled throughout the years battling various terrorist groups. The FARC is the most dangerous terrorist organization that the country has continually fought for over four decades. Drug trafficking, bombings, and political leader targeted attacks are the tactics used by this terrorist organization in hopes to gain political power. Their agenda is geared to overtake the Colombian government to make the country into a socialist society. Various efforts and attempts in conjunction with the US government have led to a weakened state of the FARC. However, the journey to defeat this terrorist group continues.
In the year 1948 Colombia, was plagued by social and economic problems, and at the same time embroiled in a political feud between the country's two traditional parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, which led to a ten year civil war dividing the country in two; which was later called “La Violencia” and resulted in a minimum of 200,000 deaths.( Colombia)
The cartels are now in control of most of the drug trades and are successful. The Mexican border gives them the power to go everywhere they desire, making them a relentless force. “To date operation Xcellrator has led the arrest of 755 individuals and the seizure of approximately 5 U.S. Currency more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 11,000 of methamphetamine, more than 8 kilograms of heroin, approximately 1.3 million pills of ecstasy”(Doj 2). Mexican cartels extend to central and southern America. Columbia is the supply of much of the cocaine exported to the U.S. Colombia is under control of South American gangs, they do business with the Mexican cartels to transport drugs the north. The Northern Mexican gangs hold the most control because the territory is very important (Wagner1). They are many different types of cartel in Mexico it also signifies that there are killing each other so their cartel can expand an...
...es relationship is soaring through trade embargo. The reinforcement of the Colombian National Police force everywhere in Colombia is very secure. People in Colombia are fun loving people willing to teach anyone there culture. Thru trials and error learning from their past the image of Colombia changed for the good.
Drug trafficking and terrorism are illegal clandestine activities with strong national security and law enforcement threat components and operational similarities. Terrorists like drug traffickers, need weapons and engage in violence to achieve goals. Terrorists, like drug traffickers, are often involved in hiding and laundering sources of funds. Both terrorists and drug traffickers operate transnationally, and often get logistical and operational support from local ethnic satellite communities. Both groups often rely on the criminal community for support: they may need smuggled weapons, forged documents and safe houses to operate effectively. Finally, both groups need a steady cash flow to operate. In the case of terrorists, where state sources of funding are rapidly diminishing, drug trafficking is an attractive funding option. Increasingly, terrorist organizations are looking to criminal activity and specifically the drug trade as a source of funding. The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces, a guerilla force) in Colombia are but one of many cases in point.
FARC basically fulfills its financial needs through its insurgent activities such as murdering, bombing, extortion, kidnapping, hijacking and drug trafficking, cultivation and distribution. The primary objective of this insurgent group is to have control over the Colombian territory in order to decrease the influence of the U.S in the region as well as to bring major land reforms so as to help poor communities with the distribution of equal wealth as the rest of population based on the communism of Marxist ideology.
There is a lot of history in Colombia! Independence was not made until Simon Bolivar made an army to defeat spanish troops from the battle of Boyaca in 1819. The FARC and the AUC had business with the drug trade. In 1970 and 1980 the Colombian industry grew from where it was in the past. In the year 1990 a national assembly with indigenous groups, people originally from the area country and the nontraditional parties got together to rewrite the constitution in the year 1886.
Colombia's consistently sound economic policies and aggressive promotion of free trade agreements in recent years have bolstered its ability to weather external shocks. Columbia is the fourth largest coal exporter, and Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer. Economic development is obstructed by inadequate infrastructure, inequality, poverty, narcotics trafficking and an uncertain security situation. A major economic issue that the country faces is the fact that Columbia is a known global supplier of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. The narcotics trade is around five to ten percent of the GDP, and because of drug trafficking, it has a negative impact on the economy and security. Another major political issue that Columbia faces is
Colombia is a country that is rich in soil and the most fertile in the world. Because Colombia has such rich and limitless resources it comes at a high price. One of these resources is considered to be a life line to a better life, which is called the coca leaf. Cocaine is a drug that has been around for many years. This drug hasn 't always been for recreational uses but just known as a pure coca leaf in the jungle. The coca leaf has not only transformed it 's self into a money-making drug but it has also transformed Colombia into the main supplier to all countries for its pure cocaine drug, making Colombia one of the most dangerous places in the world.
In 1995, the US began to fund aerial eradication campaigns in Colombia. Military planes dumped pesticides over thousands of acres of coca fields. These campaigns turned out to be counterproductive, leading to an actual increase in the amount of coca acreage. The spraying of coca only led Colombian growers to diversify their techniques, growing coca amongst other crops or in locations that were hard to identify by radar techniques. In 2002, the CI...
It wasn't just in Miami that the violence had erupted but also in Colombia. The situation in the country was much worse; the Medellin Cartel which was controlled by Pablo Escobar, The Ochoa Brother, Carlos Lehder, and Jose Rodriguez Gacha controlled much of the drug trade in Colombia. The Medellin Cartel would be at war against the Colombian government; as a result police, judges, and government officials were gunned down on the streets of Columbia. The government had evidence to extradite anyone who was caught acting in drug related crimes. As a result the Cartel made one of the most violent act they have ever committed. On November 6, 1985 the guerrilla group, M19, raided the palace of justice. According to Business Insider the raid took course over 2 days.
Wickham-Crowley, Timothy P. Guerrillas & Revolution in Latin America: A Comparative Study of Insurgents and Regimes Since 1956. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1992.