CONGRATULATIONS: A MAJOR STEP TOWARD
PEACE IN COLOMBIA!
June 28, 2007
Dear Friends,
Lutheran World Relief applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for taking action toward a more constructive U.S. policy aid package for Colombia. If enacted, the 2008 Foreign Operations Bill, passed by the House of Representatives, will increase money for alternative crop development, judicial and police reforms, and human rights protection. This increase will be accompanied by a decrease in the amount of funding for military efforts.
For the first time, provisions are included in the Foreign Operations Bill that require the U.S. State Department to certify that Colombian armed forces are not violating land and property rights of Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities.
Since 2000, the U.S. has consistently increased military aid to Colombia. The continuous increases resulted in approximately 80% of aid going to military and police use, with only 20% dedicated to meeting social and humanitarian needs.
As a result of the House passing the 2008 Foreign Operations Bill last week those previous percentages will likely be more evenly distributed. If the House version becomes law, 55% of U.S. aid will be designated for military and police use, while 45% will be for social and humanitarian aid. The Bill will be considered by the Senate in late July.
This increase in social and humanitarian aid will benefit those communities most affected by the conflict. Aid can now be increased for the development of programs which encourage farmers to produce alternative crops and aid to provide judicial institutions with the resources they need to investigate abuses and collaboration with armed groups.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTION
Thank you for your tireless work. LWR congratulates all who have worked hard for peace in Colombia over the years for making this gain possible.
