Uribe Would Help Displaced in 2nd Term, Colombia Official Says

[Judi Lynn]

Uribe Would Help Displaced in 2nd Term, Colombia Official Says
July 8 (Bloomberg)

-- Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, who is seeking a constitutional change to run for re-election, would use his second term to help families displaced by the country's civil war, now that an stronger military presence has improved security, his vice-minister of foreign affairs said.

Uribe, whose security buildup has helped bring investment and economic growth since he took office in August 2002, has failed to stem the flight of Colombians from their homes as rebel and paramilitary fighters clash with government troops. The United Nations estimates 2 million people have been displaced during the four-decade conflict.

``The local population is very scared'' of armed groups, whether they represent government, paramilitaries or rebels, Vice Minister Jaime Giron said in an interview July 5 in Wassenaar, near The Hague.

Uribe is trying to extend the government's control of areas previously under de facto control of armed groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the paramilitary United Self Defense Forces of Colombia. The two are also fighting each other for control of drug routes, the government says.
(snip/...)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=agmsQ_iuE_eE&refer=latin_america

Colombian political cartoon: _Bush

[Jack Rabbit]

1. And I'm a retired kamikaze pilot

!!

[mom cat]

2. Uribe for sainthood

I just loved this line from the article:

Colombia also wants to improve the functioning of the legal system and has speeded up criminal prosecutions ``to fight impunity which was also high in Colombia,'' he said. ``Things are really moving quickly but we still have work for a long time.''

Uribe fights impunity like Bush fights Global Warming!

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Given that the Colubian Military works openly in concert with

the right wing paramilitaries, I'd say Uribe is full of it.