Urgent Action

CSN Madison, March 6, 2002

A proposal for a Resolution on Colombia is up on the House today. This Resolution is up under suspension which means limiting the debate to 40 minutes and requiring a 2/3 vote for passage ).

The House Resolution is based on two false premises :

1. That Colombia is a democracy. This is false. It has only the facade of a democracy.
2. That the problems in Colombia will disappear if the terrorism is ended and the drug problem curtailed. There must be structural changes in Colombia.

It is imperative that Hearings be held in both the House and the Senate before the United States changes its policy or commits further resources to Colombia.

Colombia does not need a United States appointed czar in Colombia.

CSN-Madison, March 8, 2002
COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK' S URGENT ACTION

The International Relations Committee in the House is circulating a draft of a Resolution on Colombia recommending that President Bush "appropriate counter terrorism support" to the Government of Colombia including the following :

1.Intelligence sharing,
2. War Materiel
3. Training

The Resolution also would direct the Secretary of State to appoint a high ranking official to coordinate this assistance to the Government of Colombia

Call your Representatives and make them know that this action would be not only irresponsible but dangerous since the situation in Colombia is a civil-war going on for 38 years . Besides, aid to Colombia can not be released until the State Department delivers a report certifying that the Colombian Armed Forces are bringing ALL armed groups to justice. No decisions should be made in relation to Colombia until the Presidential and Parliamentary elections are held in May. Urge Hearings on Colombia that include representatives of Colombian organizations,the United Nations Special Envoy and members of the 10 facilitating countries participating in the Peace Process.
Decisions on Colombia should not be made only on the basis of reports from the State Department and the Colombian Embassy. The American taxpayer deserves to know the truth about this complex situation

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