No subject

prices and government indifference. In response, we see the growth of the 
Zapatistas; the Landless Workers Movement in Brazil; the coalition of 
indigenous rebels, unions, leftists and progressive military in Ecuador; and 
the FARC-EP peasant guerrilla force in Colombia. Normal politics is nearly 
impossible in most of Latin America where being a radical politician, a 
union organizer or even a union member is to become an instant target for 
murder. This “social terrorism”—supported by the US—is hard to imagine. 
Since the last time the guerrillas laid down their arms (1989) almost 5000 
members of the Patriotic Union have been assassinated. In El Salvador and 
Guatemala peace accords resulted in similar levels of repression.
Globalization of Small Farm Bankruptcy: Coca or Corn?
The situation of farmers in Colombia is desperate. In 1990 Colombia imported 
17,000 tons of corn, in 1997 corn imports reached 1.7 million tons. 
Increased agricultural imports eliminated 130,000 local jobs. Coffee exports 
fell from 16 million sacks of coffee in 2000 to only 9 million sacks in 
2001. Declines in the coffee sector have imperiled the 350,000 families who 
depend on it. The globalization of low prices for many commodities is 
driving  Colombian farmers and farmworkers to abandon farming for the urban 
slums or else they clear new lands and turn to the growing of coca and opium 
poppies. Large export oriented farmers are thriving in parts of Colombia. If 
you buy cut roses or heroin or cocaine in the US, odds are that they came 
from Colombia along with the coal, oil, bananas, nickel and coffee that the 
poor and the oppressed workers of Colombia serve up to their masters in the 
US. Colombia is the largest exporter of flowers after the Netherlands.
     “Drug use and the narcotics trade are a phenomenon of globalized 
capitalism and of the Yankees - not a problem caused by the FARC-EP! Since 
the US uses the existence of the drug trade as the pretext for its criminal 
activity against the Colombian people, we call upon the US to legalize the 
consumption of narcotics. In that way, the huge profits produced by the 
illegality of the drug business would be reduced, consumption could be 
controlled and those with drug dependence could receive treatment.
     The leaders of the northern imperialist power should abandon their 
two-faced morality and make a real contribution to humanity by addressing 
the drug problems in the developed countries. They should not forget that 
the Roman Empire perished because of its arrogance and immorality Statement 
by the FARC-EP, January 2002).”
     The rightwing death squads working along side the Colombian army have 
driven farmers and peasants off the land in large areas of Colombia. Those 
who do not leave are killed. The large farmers and drug lords of the 
rightwing then take possession of the “abandoned” lands.
    Last August, the National Association for Farm Salvation held national 
protests that blocked roads in half of Colombia’s Departments. The army 
killed two protesters when 11,000 peasants occupied roads in Huila. Farmers 
complain that the government has over and over failed to deliver on promises 
to the rural areas for technical assistance, road improvements and other 
rural programs.

Ecology, Neoliberalism,  and Alternatives
The Colombian War endangers regional security and economics; it endangers 
the small farmers and the indigenous people; and the war and the herbicide 
spraying by the US is endangering the most biologically diverse region on 
Earth. Fifty percent of all species live in tropical rainforests. Five to 
ten percent of all tropical species disappear each decade: 100 species a 
day. There are more species of fish in the Amazon Basin than in the entire 
Atlantic Ocean.
The only country in the world with more species than Colombia is Brazil, 
which is eight times larger. Ten percent of all the species on the planet 
live only in Colombia. This wildly diverse country with coasts on both 
oceans and several mountain ranges ranks second in the world in the number 
of plant species and amphibians, third in reptiles. Amid the battle zones 
grow half the world’s orchids and a dazzling variety of jaguars, giant 
otters, primates, spectacled bears, agoutis, kinkajus and dolphins. There 
are more species of birds in Colombia  (1780) than any other country and 75 
percent are endangered . Manatees, tapirs and macaws are only a fraction of 
the species that are on the verge of extinction in Colombia.  And now there 
is war in paradise. (The Independent Review, Vol. VI, No3, Winter, 2002, 
Plan Colombia).
     Drug use by US citizens is the fuel which fires the nightmares in 
Colombia. But no one wants to emphasize this enough so people talk about the 
plight of the farmers and how fair trade could help. Shade-grown fair trade 
coffeeee! and support for local craftspeople is a fine idea, but these 
efforts will remain only symbolic education until there are major structural 
changes in global economics. Many groups don’t want to sound like they are 
against the whole structure of international trade and finance so they 
promote fair trade and modest reforms. The real problem in Latin America is 
land ownership, income distribution and the continuous interventions of the 
US against progressive governments and new ideas.

The US Demands War: Target Colombia
   February 7, Los Pozos, Colombia- “FARC renewed their calls for an end to 
Plan Colombia; the removal of US advisers; arrest and trials for rightwing 
paramilitary leaders; respect for human, civil and political rights for all 
Colombians; modifications to the neoliberal economic policies of the 
government; prisoner releases; an end to herbicide spraying; and one year of 
financial aid for the unemployed. Funding for aid to the unemployed would 
come from Plan Colombia, taxes on the wealthy and international aid. FARC 
suggested that the national group negotiating the peace accords should 
administer the fund, and the country’s unions, peasant and indigenous 
organizations should meet to work out the details (People’s Weekly World, 
February 15 , 2002)”
After showing faked videos on national television, outgoing Colombian 
president Pastrana Arango responded to the FARC-EP proposals by declaring 
war. He terminated the peace talks, invaded the guerrilla safe haven and 
launched hundreds of bombing sorties which killed many guerrillas.
The war in Colombia intensifies as President Bush requests more military aid 
and broader US involvement. Human rights groups counter that the $500 
million dollars about to be sent to Colombia must be halted because the 
Colombian government is in serious and systemic violation of the conditions 
stipulated in last year’s foreign aid law. Colombia continues to ignore 
human rights abuses by the military, it has not severed the ties between the 
military and right wing paramilitary death squads and officers dismissed 
from the military often move right into positions with the paramilitaries. 
According to an article by Jim Lobe, the new Attorney General of Colombia is 
not prosecuting corrupt officers, but he has dismissed officers who want to 
cooperate with paramilitary investigations (Ashville Global Report, February 
14-20).
     In November, 2001, the Bogota daily El Tiempo reported that documents 
were found in a safehouse of the dominant paramilitary group the AUC. The 
documents captured in Colima (in the south-central department of Valle de 
Cauca) revealed a list of 30 members of the Colombian police and army who 
are on the payroll of  the AUC. Companies who are actively doing business 
with the paramilitaries were also mentioned.
     Presidential elections culminate May 26 and by that time the war may 
have spread to neighboring countries. In March, tensions on the Ecuadorian  
border resulted in the imposition of military rule by the Ecuadorian 
government. The government claimed the military was sent in to guard the 
border, but later admitted it was also due to large protests by campesinos 
and indigenous groups against general government neglect and the 
environmental impacts of a new oil pipeline, the OCP, which cuts through 
Succumbios in northeast Ecuador. An international camp and tree-sit are also 
opposing the OCP pipeline and attracting world media. The Colombian war and 
the hardline stance of the frontrunner, Alvaro Uribe Velez, will only 
increase investment jitters throughout the region. Coupled with the 
deepening collapse of Argentina and the weakness of many countries in South 
America the economic outlook under the WTO looks bleak for years to come.
     The US is pushing many countries to the brink just as concerns over 
neoliberalism and globalization have mobilized millions of workers, peasants 
and indigenous peoples to rise up in selfdefense and demands for power. 
Political parties are vanishing as quickly as many endangered species. Is a 
continent in chaos just around the corner?
     “Political independence without economic independence is not really 
liberation. Economic power wields powerful and effective weapons. In Chile, 
Allende made it clear that the socialism he envisaged was adapted to the 
needs and aspirations of the Chilean people. But multinational corporations 
like ITT were there provoking quarrels... The economic forces that need poor 
countries to stay poor are skillful at exploiting the weaknesses of people 
who are ill-prepared for the freedom [and expectations] which follows a 
popular victory.” Dom Helder Camara, “The Conversions of a Bishop.”

CIA Death Squad Smart Bombs
    The bombing of Colombia began more than a year ago with a few drops of 
black ink. Only now are the bombs striking their targets. The reason that 
the peace talks have failed has nothing to do with the guerrillas or a few 
kidnappings. The bombing of "The Peace" began when US President Clinton, 
with stroke of a pen, released 100's of millions of dollars in military aid 
to Colombia despite his acknowledgment that the Colombian government had 
failed to improve its human rights record.
    Drug dealers and war criminals run the Colombian government and its 
armed forces. Just ask the kidnapped Colombian Senator and fringe 
presidential candidate of the Oxygen Green Party, Ingrid Bentacourt. Her 
book “Until Death Do Us Part” (a best seller in France) states that half the 
Colombian legislatures are on the drug money payroll. Few people inside or 
outside of the US have backed the "Plan [for war in] Colombia and even fewer 
think it will work to stop the drug trade. Henry Kissinger rejected the plan 
and the European Parliament voted 474 to 1 to  condemn US policies in Latin 
America. EU countries have stated that land reform is necessary for peace in 
Colombia and many have worked hard to keep the peace talks alive.
    US-made dumb bombs are blasting the rainforest hideouts of the FARC-EP, 
but it was the US-backed death squad "smart" bombs which doomed the chance 
for peace. These death squad smart bombs are the product of the greed of the 
Colombian wealthy and the US School of the Americas - the greatest terrorist 
training camp around. The paramilitary death squads of the AUC are the 
secret weapons in this dirty war that has lasted nearly 40 years. The AUC, 
Uribe’s civilian militias and the Colombian military have killed  around 
30,000 people in the last decade. This death squad coalition supported by 
the wealthy, large  landowners and the narco-bourgeoisie control most of the 
drug trade in Colombia. Accusations claim that when Uribe was head of 
civilian aviation he gave pilot’s licenses to drug trade pilots.
     The US listed the AUC as a terrorist organization this year. Few steps 
towards arresting or restraining the right wing death squads have been 
taken. They still control large areas of Colombia through terror and 
intimidation.
     The UN and human rights groups repeatedly decry the terror killings of 
the death squads of the AUC who together with the Colombian army are 
responsible for 80% of civilian casualties. People are killed by the 
guerrillas but rarely in the indiscriminate or terror inspired way that the 
death squads use - even chainsaw massacres. More union activists are killed 
in Colombia than in the whole world combined. They are killed by the 
Colombian Military and their death squad allies. The New York Times and most 
papers totally ignore the plight of the ELN, unionists, teachers and the 
vast majority of the innocent victims who die at the hand of US allies in 
Colombia."
This terror has a purpose: "Given the speed with which paramilitaries are 
extending their terror and gaining control of densely populated territories, 
Carlos Castano - the head of the AUC - may see his political ambition to 
elect the ultra-right leader of his choice become a distinct possibility.- 
The first democratically elected Fascist Dictatorship in Latin American 
backed up by mafia funding and support. (Ana Carrigan, In These Times 
Magazine, 2001).”
    “When we talk about Liberation whether through violence or non-violence, 
we are groping in the dark. How can we expect young people to renounce armed 
struggle unless we offer them something strong and effective in exchange - 
something that can achieve concrete results?” - Dom Helder Camara, Bishop of 
Rio de Janeiro.

FARC-EP REACTS TO THE ENDING OF THE COLOMBIAN PEACE PROCESS

“When we lay down our weapons they kill us. When we get close to discussing 
the issues of fundamental importance to true peace they bomb us…always they 
aid the paramilitaries in their atrocities. Look at us we are here. We will 
defend this place, those are our instructions, this is our home, but this 
struggle is not about claiming or defending territory, it is about defending 
principles.” Arbey Ramirez, a mid level FARC-EP commander, February 28, 
2002,  in the former safe haven awaiting the approaching Colombian military.
Excerpts from the 13 Point Communique from the “Mountains of Colombia”:
“The rupture of the peace talks in Colombia was due to pressure from the 
armed forces, the economic elite, the mass media, certain extremist 
presidential candidates and the US Embassy. The US government is eager to 
prevent any of the changes that our country needs.
     Once again the Colombian oligarchy has prevented a negotiated solution 
to the severe structural problems of Colombian society. The government and 
the economic elite have abandoned and forgotten the 30 million Colombians 
who are suffering.
     We say to all those people who believe in a political solution and the 
common agenda for change towards the new Colombia that we are ready and 
willing to meet and talk with any future government that shows an interest 
in returning to the search for a political solution to the social and armed 
conflict.
    We call on the international community and in particular the group of 
friendly countries to continue assisting in the search for a political 
solution to the social and armed conflict in our country. And we call on 
these countries to keep their distance from those warmongering sectors that 
at this time are trying to impose a war on Colombia using the pretext of 
fighting terrorism.
     Our voice is that of the Colombian people and this gives us the 
strength to say that we will continue the struggle and the mobilization in 
an organized way to find solutions to the problems of unemployment, lack of 
education, health, land for the farmers and lack of housing and for 
political freedom, democracy and national sovereignty and for a new 
government of national reconstruction and reconciliation.
     For more than 37 years the FARC-EP have fought for the interests of the 
people and we will continue to do so, holding our political and ideological 
beliefs high. It is for this reason that our class enemies continue to 
oppose us.”—Senior Commanders: Raul Reyes, Joaquin Gomez, Carlos Antonio 
Losada, Simon Trinidad and Andres  Par. (News Agency New Colombia Associated 
member of FELAP - Latin American Federation of Journalists  
redaccion at anncol.com; www.anncol.com)

A Broader Peace for the Hemisphere
Localization is what the farmers of Colombia need: a new global economic 
structure paid for by the wealthy and from taxes on fossil fuels and trade. 
Under localization programs the price of food would rise significantly to 
reflect the true cost of production and the value of these most important 
resource: the soils of the farmlands and healthy ecosystems. Corporations 
and the chemicals of the not-so Green Revolution would be restricted. Roses 
and other flowers would be plowed under and Colombians could once again grow 
corn and food crops at a profit.
     To compliment policies of localization there needs to be a new kind of 
direct economic democracy like the examples being derived in Puerto Allegre 
and in sustainable rural development programs. How can people form a 
dual-power to the state and organize along lines of direct participatory 
democracy, social equality and mutual aid?
     “The burgeoning Argentinean Soviets or Asambleas Populares are shaping 
an answer. It began in January 2002, with the people of Almagro, Buenos 
Aires who declared a State of Assembly and mobilization. ‘This is the only 
way to guarantee our rights as workers, neighbors and Argentineans. We call 
all neighborhoods to create Popular Assemblies and organizations. And we 
call to create Connection Commissions (Comisiones de Enlace) to help the 
Assemblies coordinate.’ Hopefully, these earthquakes of Neighborhood 
Assemblies and dual-power will shake all of Latin America (Earth First! 
Journal, Feb.-Mar. 2002).” The FARC-EP and the ELN have also endorsed these 
concepts and they support local power, free expression and participatory 
decision-making for the new Colombia.
     With the examples of Puerto Allegre, the Argentine Asambleas, and the 
social and agrarian reforms in Venezuela a new path to sustainable 
development presents itself to the world. The economics of localization 
based on the principles enshrined in the Earth Charter uses self-organizing 
and practical self-sufficiency to create a credible alternative to the 
brutality of the FTAA-WTO-Free Trade disaster.
     Another world is possible and it is happening right now...

EJÉRCITO DE LIBERACIÓN NACIONAL - ELN
(NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY)
A. Vision of the Conflict
"Although it seems paradoxical, war, with all its cruelties and pain, is the 
only possible balm that can rupture the reign of terror held by the powerful 
over the weak. However, war, revolutionary war that is, has a political, 
humane dimension which seeks to rebuild the dreams and hopes of millions of 
men and women who have been disfavored, excluded, and downtrodden by a 
sociopolitical network imposed by those who hold the political and economic 
power. Thus, a paradoxical relationship between war and peace rises from the 
ashes; they are complements, they are derivatives one of the other, they are 
both part of a historic course that, instead of opposing them, ties them 
together, joins them, links them. The interrelationship between the two is 
well illustrated by our philosophy, because we make war to conquer peace 
with social justice".




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