June
2000June
2000ON JUNE 6, GRASSROOTS ACTIVSTS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WILL CALL THEIR SENATORS TO OPPOSE MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA AND SUPPORT FUNDS FOR DOMESTIC TREATMENT. JOIN THIS DAY OF ACTION BY CALLING YOUR SENATOR!
The Senate is preparing to vote on an U.S. aid package to Colombia amounting to over $1 billion. The majority of aid will go to the most abusive military in the Western Hemisphere and pull the United States into an un-winnable counterinsurgency war. Moreover, it will promote an ineffective drug policy that has failed for over a decade.
The Clinton Administration claims that this aid package is directed at counter-narcotics operations, and won't mean further involvement in Colombia's dirty counter-insurgency war. However, the vast majority of the aid package will go to support the Colombian military and police. If the Senate doesn't hear from you, only a small portion of the aid package will provide for non-military aid in an attempt to support peace, human rights, and economic assistance, and none of it will go to U.S domestic drug treatment or prevention. For years, the United States has pursued a failed drug policy, one that focuses resources on forced eradication with herbicides, large military investments, and intelligence sharing. These policies have not worked; instead drug production has increased.
When the Senate considers the package, Senator Wellstone (D-MN) will offer an amendment to shift funds from Colombian military aid to drug treatment at home. This amendment gives you the opportunity to not only help prevent the United States from exacerbating Colombia's internal conflict, it gives the U.S. a chance to make positive steps toward an effective drug policy.
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121 Or look up your Senators on the Internet: www.senate.gov
OPPOSE THE PORTION OF THE PACKAGE THAT PROVIDES MILITARY AID TO COLOMBIA. To avoid getting the United States more deeply involved with Colombia's infamous armed forces, I ask you to oppose aid to the Colombian army due to human rights concerns, especially army links to brutal paramilitary forces. Instead, I urge you to support a substantial positive aid package for Colombia, including: humanitarian relief; crop substitution programs; economic assistance; programs to strengthen Colombia's judicial system; and aid for civil society human rights and peace initiatives.
SUPPORT SENATOR WELLSTONE'S AMENDMENT THAT SHIFTS FUNDS FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO DRUG PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES. Because the United States "War on Drugs" is one that must be fought at home, I ask you to increase funding for drug treatment and prevention programs here in our own country. Treatment is 10 times more cost effective than interdiction in reducing the use of cocaine in the United States. Yet, a recent study by researchers at Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration has indicated that 48% of the need for drug treatment, not including alcohol abuse, is unmet in the United States.
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR COLOMBIA'S ESTIMATED 1.8 MILLION INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS.
RETAIN STRONG HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BILL. Every day, at least 250 to 300 U.S. military personnel and advisors train and share intelligence with Colombia's security forces in ways that support counterinsurgency efforts. Our government has already funded the creation of a 950-troop counternarcotics battalion that is being trained to operate in Southern Colombia. This U.S. aid package will help to equip and train two more battalions already in the works. We must ensure U.S. dollars do not support human rights abusers.
SPEAK-OUT! THE MORE SENATORS THAT SPEAK OUT DURING THE SENATE DEBATE, THE BETTER. PLEASE ASK YOUR SENATORS TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA DURING THE VOTE.
Your Senators will likely be returning to your state offices or holding townhall meetings during the Memorial Recess May 29 - June 2. This is an ideal time to meet with them or express your concerns in public forums
The JUNE 6 National CALL-IN DAY OF ACTION is also a great opportunity to organize protests, educational events, press events, etc. to get your message heard.
NEED MORE INFO ON THE U.S. AID PACKAGE OR U.S. DRUG POLICY?
For more info on effective drug policy, please contact Common Sense for Drug Policy
For up-to-date info on the U.S. aid package including details on the dollar amounts included in the Senate version of the bill, visit the CIP webpage
For more information contact: Latin America Working Group: (202) 546-7010, lawg@lawg.org
U.S. Colombia/Coordinating Office (202) 232-8090, agiffen@igc.org
Alison Giffen
Director
U.S./Colombia Coordinating Office
Phone: 202-232-8090
Fax: 202-232-8092
Suite 200 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington D.C. 20009
agiffen@igc.org
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