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WFP Colombia Alert
To: Returned Colombia delegates and other activists
Subject: Action alert! State Department certified Colombia.
August 3, 2005

On August 3 the State Department announced that it is certifying Colombia on human rights. This decision releases about $70 million in military aid from fiscal years 2004 and 2005. It was, in effect a "double certification." Not only is State releasing the second portion of the 2004 that has been stalled all year, but also the first half (12.5%) of the funding contingent on certification for FY 2005.

It was because of your great work that certification has been held up this year. And under your pressure the State Department raised human rights cases with the Colombian government. But there's still insufficient evidence of progress to certify one round, much less two!

This news comes just days after Members of Congress adjourned for August recess and one day before President Uribe visits President Bush at his Crawford ranch. The State Department had just moments to wash its hands of the messy affair and clear the air between the heads of State before tomorrow's (August 4) meeting and press conference. This politically motivated decision was certainly underhanded and demonstrates the U.S. government's unambiguous support for President Uribe, known as Bushito ("Little Bush") in Colombia.

Act Now!

What you can do:

Send a letter to Secretary Rice expressing your outrage at this decision. (Sample below) You can fax letters (202) 647-2283 or mail them to 2201 C Street, NW Room 7226 Washington, DC 20520


SAMPLE LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Room 7226
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice,

I am writing to express my outrage at the State Department's recent decision to certify that the Colombian military meets human rights conditions. The release of this military aid sends a signal of approval to the Colombian government for the military's human rights record, completely disregarding lack of progress in cases of murder by Colombian security forces. The human rights certification process was created to ensure that the U.S. government would not blindly fund the Colombian military. But the State Department's certification decision shows that the U.S. does not hold the Colombian government responsible for the actions of its armed forces.

The Colombian military has been implicated in various human rights violations in the past year, and little to no progress has been made in the majority of these cases. The February massacre in the peace community San José de Apartadó is a particularly egregious example. Eight community members were macheted to death, including three children and human rights defender Luis Eduardo Guerra. The San José case is not advancing, and countless other cases, such as the Mapiripan massacre, are not resolved. Moreover, the Arauca murders of trade unionists by the U.S.-funded 18th brigade were only investigated with pressure from the U.S. State Department. This pressure needs to be maintained for all of these cases.

I am extremely disappointed that such little progress has been made on these cases, and even more upset that the U.S. is rewarding the Colombian government for such inaction by releasing military aid. I am also very concerned about the documented, continuous collaboration between the military and paramilitary death squads in many parts of the country. Until links military links to paramilitary forces are severed, and the perpetrators of human rights violation cases are prosecuted, the U.S. should not send military aid to Colombia.

The U.S. has considerable political leverage with the Colombian government, which it should use to demand accountability and prosecution of human rights abusers - whether or not they are in the military. I expect that in the next certification process the State Department will more seriously take into account the effect that their decision has on innocent Colombian civilians.

Sincerely,

[your name and address]