US should support Colombia's justice, human rights policies: Think tank .
US should support Colombia's justice, human rights policies: Think tank .
Thursday, 11 October 2012 07:02 Joey O'Gorman
The U.S. should "re-balance its support of Colombia, away from a a policy heavily invested in the military, and towards human rights," said the Kroc Institute Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego Thursday.
Since 1998 the U.S. has supported Plan Colombia, aimed at stamping out insurgency and narco-trafficking in the South American country. The plan, conceived with the administration of former Colombian president Andres Pastrana, has cost the U.S. government more than $8 billion through military training, assistance with narco-crop destruction, and provision of military equipment including Blackhawk helicopters.
During this time violence and threats have caused nearly four million Colombians to be displaced, thousands to be murdered by both sides of the armed conflict, and illegal drug production to flourish.
"The U.S. needs to be true to its democratic values and ensure the long-term rights of the people," said IPJ director Milburn Line, who last week published a Peace and Justice Policy Brief outlining the opportunities for the U.S. to invest in a peace agenda.
More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/26454-us-should-support-colombia-justice-human-rights-policies-think-tank.html
