A new war
Article Abstract:
The announcement of US aid to Colombia has been followed by a guerrilla attack. Colombia received around $300 million worth of military aid in 1999, but the drugs trade still flourishes, and guerrillas still control much of the countryside. Funds have previously gone to the police force, but this has changed, and funds are to go the the army to tackle guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug laboratories and cultivation. New battalions are being set up due to human rights concerns. The US is also supplying helicopters and helping with intelligence.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 2000
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A new class of trafficker
Article Abstract:
The Colombian drug trade is less dominated by major cartels, and smaller organizations have sprung up, while there has also been diversification into heroin. Loss of US support for Colombia in tackling the problem has meant that production has increased, due to paramilitary and guerilla groups having more power. The drug cartels have ceased to be a threat to the Colmbian government and the new type of drug trafficker is more difficult to catch, often having no criminal record.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1999
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Policy, which policy?
Article Abstract:
The US policy on narcotics control faces problems in Colombia where critics argue that there is a lack of strategy, intelligence and force in tackling the problem. The US still appears likely to grant full certification to Colombia. The US supplies arms to be used against the left-wing FARC guerilla group, as part of its anti-narcotics policy, yet arms are not supplied to tackle paramilitary groups on the political rights, though they are more involved in drugs.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1999
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