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| US Closely Watching Sunday's Election in Colombia |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 25, 2002 at 13:14:21 PT By Jim Burns, CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer Source: CNSNews.com 
Amid heavy security, the people of Colombia will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, and observers say the United States -- a major supplier of aid to Colombia -- has a lot riding on the outcome of the election.The current president, Andres Pastrana, is barred by the country's constitution from running for re-election. Colombia's president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term. In a sign of possible trouble, Colombia's left-wing FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is urging its countrymen to boycott Sunday's presidential election. Reports say the rebels are out to defeat Alvaro Uribe, the anti-FARC presidential candidate. The head of an observer mission sent by the Organization of American States told BBC Radio that right-wing paramilitaries are waging an armed campaign in favor of Uribe, while FARC was waging a campaign against him. Colombian government officials said more than 200,000 troops and police will provide security during Sunday's election. The country has been embroiled in civil war for 38 years. The latest polls indicate that Uribe will receive about half of the vote. His closest competitor in a field of 11 candidates, Horacio Serpa, is expected to receive around 23 percent of the vote. Uribe is a big proponent of US military aid and wants a huge military buildup against FARC. Colombia is one of the biggest recipients of U.S. aid, but under current law, that aid can be used only to fight drug trafficking. Uribe has avoided public appearances since a bomb almost killed him last month. Serpa, the Liberal Party candidate, is a former interior minister. If no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote on Sunday, a runoff election will be held on June 16. The United States has a major interest in the outcome of this election. Presidents Bush and Clinton have sent more than $1 billion in aid to Colombia, mostly to fight against narcotics trafficking. Last March, the US House approved a resolution calling on President Bush to expand U.S. involvement in Colombia. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), former chairman of the House International Relations Committee, believes a change in U.S. policy is needed because he says the Colombian civil war is threatening American national interests. "Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is only three hours from Miami," said Gilman. "The FARC has attacked cities, towns, police stations, bridges, dams and power lines all across Colombia since the peace talks ended last month. Let there be no mistake, the FARC are terrorists, financed with illicit drug money," he said. Gilman thinks America needs to restore "clarity" to its foreign policy towards Columbia. "We must provide the anti-kidnapping, Colombian police units with helicopters to rescue victims, including Americans, in the often hard-to-reach terrain, and U.S. aid to the Colombian military should be anti-terrorist assistance," he said. But Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) disagrees. He was the only House member to speak out against the resolution on the grounds that Colombia could turn into another Vietnam. "Let us not hide behind euphemisms. A so-called war on terrorism in Colombia is simply a set of code words for the U.S. to become even more deeply engaged in a counterinsurgency war that has been going on for nearly 40 years," McGovern said. Source: CNSNews.com Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News Bush in Colombia: An Old War Gets a New Boost Collateral Damage from Colombia's Drug War Administration Won't Send US Troops To Colombia House Approves Resolution Calling For More Aid Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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