(8/1) On the international plane, the announcement
of a new migratory policy by President Bush as well as the initiation of
indexing and recording visitors to the United States and North Americans
in Brazil, forms the basis on which the responses of the Latin American
countries to asylum and the protection of foreigners will be defined. It
is not known whether the offer of three-year work visas, which could benefit
12 million immigrants, is part of the electoral campaign or is a genuine
possibility. In the case of Colombians or Peruvians fleeing their countries
due to the domestic armed conflicts, this could endanger the Andean Adjustment
bill.
(8/1) State Department spokesperson
Richard Boucher's declaration that "with respect to our policy on
Latin America, particularly in the Andes, I would say that through the
Plan Colombia effort and more broadly the Andean Regional Initiative, a
considerable amount of energy, assets and money has gone into the social
and economic needs of the population" is aimed at showing a more comprehensive
vision of the policy instruments that highlight the military and police
aspects. For example, recent studies indicate that a fundamental problem,
such as that of land ownership, is reduced to the fact that 40% of Colombia's
fertile land is in the hands of illegal groups.
In the Summit of the Americas (Monterrey, Mexico), President Uribe noted the need to maintain Plan Colombia, despite the concerns of neighboring countries. Behind the differences perceived in the summit are two thorny issues: multinational force for issues such as Colombia or Bolivia, and the South American political union. The Final Declaration emphasized the aid agencies' role in providing humanitarian assistance. The visit to the region by European Union foreign relations commissioner Chris Patten sparked verbal clashes with Vice President Santos regarding whether or not the 24 recommendations of London would be met and the European visions of the process, respectively. Patten said that the European Union would continue insisting to the UN on the need for a humanitarian agreement to free those kidnapped.
The recent capture in Ecuador of Simón Trinidad, a member of the FARC secretariat implies diverse effects: it reduces the vision of its members' invulnerability, weakens the possibility of a humanitarian agreement between the FARC and the government and shows police and intelligence cooperation by the neighbor countries -- despite the political discord. It also demonstrates that the guerrilla and other groups have a presence in the region.
There is a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in various regions of the country at the same time as the Congress, through certain constitutional changes, granted new faculties to the Colombian military forces. In the first half of December, the Anti-terrorist Statute was approved, while the armed actors readjusted in accord with their needs and possibilities. In this context is defined the real meaning of the demobilization of the paramilitary groups, which includes the proposal by General Bonett to halt the extradition processes. In addition, differences remain between the groups willing to negotiate with the government and others that maintain a position of conflict (Meta/Casanare).
A recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) called "Andes 2020: A New Strategy for the Challenges of Colombia and the Region", considers US policy toward the region clumsy and puts forward three proposals: strategic reform of land ownership, greater international involvement and regional solutions to regional problems. Meanwhile, the government is offering 5,000 additional peasant soldiers for 2004. According to CODHES, 20,727 people were forced to flee to one of the 547 border municipalities in 2003, while 15,000 Colombians reportedly fled to neighboring countries in search of protection. President Uribe is preparing for his next visit to Europe in February, in circumstances in which the assistance provided by the European entity to the displaced has reached 2 million Euros annually.
BRAZIL
Brazil's position regarding issues such as the Amazonian Vigilance System (SIVAM), the development of the armed conflict in Colombia (borders and drugs) and a possible invasion of the Amazonia by foreign forces and military integration defines its current foreign policy in the region. The relations with the United States around multilateralism and the Role of Latin America could also define its border policy. Nonetheless, the conducting of the Laco Forte, Timbó and Ajuricaba 2 military operations between 2000 and now are not only aimed at fear of the presence of the Colombian guerrilla movement but also the of the Peruvian guerrillas in the border area with the state of Amazonas. (14/01) Theft of a small plane on the border with Bolivia (Matto Grosso), while in the previous two months four others were stolen.
The conducting of recent Colombian army operations in the department of Vichada, on the border with Brazil, helps generate a climate of fear. (19/1) A recent incident that occurred with Ambassador Jorge Enrique Garavito in Brasilia apparently led to a diplomatic protest. That same day, military authorities announced that the border zone would be reinforced with 3,000 more men by 2005 to reach a total 25,000 soldiers from the three armed forces. The Calha Norte Project is based in Sao Gabriel de Cachoeira. The upcoming inauguration of the naval base on Isla de Sao Vicente was also announced.
ECUADOR
A year after the coming to power of President Gutiérrez, the political problem in Ecuador remains due to the power relation with drug trafficking and in general the corruption associated with political power represented by Sociedad Patriótica. The reinitiation of the mobilizations by indigenous groups, although not in a unified way, is anticipated.
(12/1) Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda is insisting on requiring visas for Colombians and Peruvians as the last recourse for rationalizing their entry, which could affect the indigenous groups and those requesting asylum. The greatest fears and apprehension toward foreigners is found within the military and business sectors in the border areas. Juan Holguín, Humanitarian Affairs and Human Rights Director for the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry, ratified the decision to welcome foreign citizens as refugees. He said that between 2002 and 2003 Ecuador had received 11,192 requests for asylum. Another report by the European Commission states that 1,000 requests had been received monthly during 2003. In February, President Gutiérrez will travel to Colombia, where the migratory and humanitarian aspect will surely come under review. (15/12) The construction of a hospital is continuing in Esmeraldas, under the responsibility of the Ecuadorian navy. Meanwhile, the European Community decided to provide 206,000 euros through the UNHCR for the Colombian refugees who come to Ecuador, essentially to improve the registry system and reception capacities.
The capture of Trinidad led the Ecuadorian military command to expect reprisals from FARC, which denounced it as the dirty alliance between Bush, Uribe and Gutiérrez. (12/1) It was announced that eight months ago FARC secretariat member Ra=FAl Reyes broke through a ring set up by Ecuadorian and Colombian authorities. Meanwhile, (5/1) it told ANNCOL: "Ecuador and Colombia are brother peoples with common histories and tight cultural bonds. The FARC shares the longing of the other part of the Colombian people to strengthen and stimulate relations of friendship and good neighbors with all the border countries." El Comercio says that up to 100 FARC camps exist along the 266 kilometers of border, while a recent report from the Administrative Security Department recognizes that the latest FARC attacks, in which they used US-made M72A2 rockets, emanated in Ecuador. This situation has led to reinforced controls and increased military personnel to avoid attacks from Front 48, particularly in the area of the Río San Miguel area, in Sucumbíos.
A recent Ecological Action Report on genetic damage to women from indiscriminate fumigation has produced no consistent political changes. Curiously, (18/1) US Ambassador William Wood said in Bogota that the fumigation of crops has had no impact on the cocaine market. Meanwhile, the goal for 2004 of Colombia's Police Chief, General Jorge Castro, is to eradicate 100,000 hectares of coca, fundamentally in Putumayo, Nariño and Huila.
PANAMA
(11/12) 26 families, 84 Colombians, were repatriated from the community of Jaque (Panama) to Jurado (Colombia) with national and international presence, particularly by the UNHCR and the International Migrations Organization, as invited witnesses. The reports indicate that it was done guaranteeing the transparency and voluntary nature of the process. Nonetheless, there is concern about the security situation despite the presence of 80 police and 71 infantry in Jurado and surrounding areas. Another concern refers to the infrastructure situation they found, despite the offers made with respect to health, housing and education. "The UNHCR believes that considerable progress has been made by the Colombian authorities in fulfilling their commitments."
(20/12) The National Police repelled a march regarding the 14th anniversary of the US invasion. (18/19) Special envoy Otto Reich visited Panama to meet with the presidential candidates and touch on bilateral issues.
(12/1) In addition, a meeting was held between President Moscoso and Presidents Uribe, Bush and Lula in the framework of the Summit of the Americas. Days earlier, a meeting of coordinators had taken place to review the progress of Plan Puebla Panama, drawn up in Mexico (US$2 billion for infrastructure and development). (11/1) Panama's migration authorities announced that they were beginning to record the fingerprints of all foreign visitors who come to the Tocumen Airport (20,000 annually). Curiously, John Bennett, President of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives, stated that Panamanians suffer from xenophobia. (22/1) In response to criticisms made in the Summit of the Americas due to the asylum taken by Ecuadorian politicians, among others, Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias justified the political asylum that Panama grants as the unilateral prerogative of states.
(10/1) Colombian trafficker Jes=FAs Henao Montoya, from the Norte del Valle cartel, was captured on a farm on the Darién border and later extradited to the United States (15/1). The incident could have consequences for the legal situation of Colombians requesting asylum. (14/1) In response to versions about the loss of a patrol boat in Darién, near Punuza, Police director Carlos Barés minimized the incident.
PERU
(7/12) Robinson Rivadeneyra, president of the Loreto regional government, warned that the FARC could come into Peruvian territory, especially in the Napo, Putumayo and Ucayali basins, given the state's abandonment. Problems with Brazilian military authorities around the issue of tree cutting. (17/12) Serious beating of a Newsweek correspondent in Peru who had been investigating the application of the fusarium oxysporum fungus and also the FARC's entry into Peru. Lastly, (21/1) Peruvian police have detected coca crops along the riverbanks of the Putumayo, bordering with Colombia.
VENEZUELA
Several confrontations occurred between the National Guard and paramilitary columns of La Guajira (Colombia) and in Táchira (Venezuela) between December 18 and 26, leaving 9 Venezuelan military dead and strong insecurity on the border. In addition, distrust of the measures that the two governments are adopting is growing. Bogota has requested a security agreement from Caracas. This incident could worsen Venezuela's humanitarian response: Technical Secretaries and the National Eligibility Commission.
(7/1) In the framework of the incidents, President Chávez complained that Colombia does not adequately protect its borders to avoid the entry of irregular groups. General Carreño of the Colombian army said he was going to reinforce the border with three additional mobile brigades. (9/1) The president of the National Assembly's National Defense Commission, representative Néstor León Heredia, stressed border attention: beefing up teams and increasing personnel with two brigades of border hunters. (20/1) Attack on Caño Limón Coveñas in the Arauquita area (Colombia) briefly paralyzed petroleum pumping (6,000 barrels a day).
Over 2,000 formal asylum petitions are awaiting responses from the national agencies. UNHCR is thus trying to increase its campaign to favor trust and access to asylum protection. Just a population like Ureña has 4,500 Colombian inhabitants, a large part of whom have had to flee the conflict.
The killing of two women and a 10-month-old baby in Tame, Arauca, at the beginning of the year and various intimidations by Colombian military authorities against human rights associations such as the Joel Sierra in Saravena illustrate the degradation of the conflict in remote zones of Colombia.
Borders Program -- PCS & NRC
Starting in 2000, the PCS consortium developed a program focusing on legal aid, political advocacy and humanitarian assistance for the refugees on Colombian's borders with Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama. The program has been implemented by church organizations and NGOs, and liaisons were established with international agencies, in particular the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Since January 2004, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has taken responsibility for parts of this program. The initial focus of the NRC's borders program is legal aid, information and Counseling, as well as national, regional and international advocacy focusing on refugee rights.
PCS and NRC will continue to disseminate its monthly borders report, with information and analysis about the situation on the borders with Colombia.