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Updated: 05/II/01
U.S. Support for Plan Colombia
Versión en español U.S. support for "Plan Colombia" is an integrated response to this comprehensive strategy. Both "Plan Colombia" and U.S. assistance are multi-faceted approaches that include alternative development and assistance to displaced persons; improved governing capacity and protection of basic human rights; support for the peace process in Colombia and cooperation with Colombia's neighbors; illicit crop eradication; and interdiction of illicit narcotics. This document describes the broad areas of U.S. support for Plan Colombia, and provides descriptions of specific programs in order to promote broader understanding. Included are explanations of:
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Alternative Development Alternative development is a central component of U.S. support to Plan Colombia. The U.S. is providing alternative development assistance both in southern Colombia, especially in the Department of Putumayo, and more broadly throughout the country. Assistance for alternative development concentrates on the 18,000 small family farms that cultivate approximately 40,000 hectares of coca. U.S. assistance, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), will help these small farmers get out of the coca growing business by finding viable and sustainable alternatives to illicit crops. U.S. assistance introduces more productive farming methods, provides high quality seeds, and assists in replacing coca fields with food and cash crops, such as beans, corn, rubber, cacao and hearts of palm. U.S. assistance also helps improve marketing and access to these legal products and finances critically needed social and productive infrastructure. Alternative development programs supported by the U.S. for these small farmers include voluntary eradication agreements, or "community pacts," between the government of Colombia and communities where small-scale cultivation (plots of three hectares or less) of illicit crops is prevalent. U.S. assistance also supports the voluntary eradication of opium poppy production on small farms totaling 2,500 hectares. This is accomplished by replacing income derived from poppy with income from such cash crops as organic coffee, fruits and berries and their processing in different forms of juice. These alternative development programs do not apply to industrial-scale, agro-business areas of illicit crop cultivation. Such areas, totaling about 80,000 hectares, account for most of the coca grown in Colombia. Separate U.S. assistance programs to Plan Colombia provide for continuing and increased aerial eradication in these areas. An important goal of these programs is to protect Colombia's globally important biological diversity by countering the severe ecological damage done by coca and poppy production in the Colombian Amazon. U.S. assistance will introduce economic alternatives to deforestation for communities living in buffer zones around protected areas and will help protect watersheds.
Alternative Development (Voluntary Eradication): $30M Assists farmers growing coca on small plots (three hectares or less) to obtain a licit income from agricultural, forestry, or livestock production and marketing. The activity concentrates in three areas:
Environmental Programs: $2.5M Protects Colombia's globally important biological diversity. By introducing economic alternatives to deforestation for communities living on the edges of protected areas, these programs offset ecological damage done by coca and poppy production in the Colombian Amazon and protect watersheds.
Encourages participation by municipalities in deciding investment priorities, on agreeing how to use social development funds, and in establishing oversight and monitoring procedures. This program will assist approximately 100 municipalities that have been involved in illicit crop eradication and that are aiding displaced persons.
Up to 50 municipalities are being identified in northern Colombia where support for displaced persons can be established. Medium term support for displaced persons is being implemented in cooperation with international organizations through grants for public infrastructure projects such as schoolrooms, water systems, road and bridge construction and repair, and market shelters. The communities themselves select the projects, provided they meet criteria for participation in the development of municipal decisions, transparency in financial management, and active participation in alternative development or other governance activities. Approximately 100,000 displaced persons will benefit from these programs.
Unless a community is able to improve its social and economic situation it is likely to return to illicit crop cultivation even after it has completed an eradication effort. These funds provide public infrastructure projects such as schoolrooms, water systems, road and bridge construction and repair, through municipal governments to provide the conditions in which communities continue to raise licit crops.
Provides technical assistance and material support to municipal governments and local NGOs to strengthen local social services including education, health, and potable water. The program also provides agricultural extension services, agricultural inputs and marketing support. In exchange, some 2,000 farmers, through farmer associations, sign agreements voluntarily to abandon coca production. The entire Alternative Development zone, comprising eight municipalities in southern Colombia and 18,000 families, will benefit from this program.
This program provides temporary food and shelter assistance for up to six months to families displaced by conflict and coca eradication in southern Colombia.
Total U.S. Plan Colombia support for alternative development and displaced persons: $106M
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Protecting Basic Human Rights U.S. support will strengthen Colombian human rights institutions and organizations and increase their capacity to document human rights abuses and monitor individual human rights cases. U.S. support is intended to help Colombians report human rights abuses and to assist the Colombian legal system deal with those reports in an effective and timely manner. U.S. support will help the government of Colombia and local non-governmental organizations to implement an early warning system that will allow officials to react swiftly to threats against the civilian population by illegal armed groups. And U.S. support will help local organizations inform and educate Colombians about their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as preventive measures in the face of threats to their human rights. U.S. support will strengthen the ability of the government of Colombia to help protect human rights workers and their organizations. U.S. assistance for displaced persons includes a special program for reintegrating "child soldiers" into Colombian society. Children as young as thirteen years old, many forcibly recruited, serve in the illegal armed groups. A special U.S. assistance program will help remove these child soldiers from armed conflict and peacefully reintegrate them into society, through education, training and community-based programs.
U.S. support will help expand the highly successful Casa de Justicia program. Casas de Justicia are neighborhood legal centers in poor communities that bring together a variety of legal services in one location. There are presently eleven Casas de Justicia in Colombia. There are plans to establish 30 by the end of 2001. Over 300,000 cases have been resolved by the Casa de Justicia system since the program was launched; when all the Casas are operational, it is estimated that one million cases will be addressed each year. Municipal governments play a key role in connecting citizens with effective, transparent, accountable government. U.S. assistance will support nearly 100 towns and municipalities to strengthen citizen participation in local government, to improve budget and program transparency, and to enhance the delivery of public services. Further support from offices of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Treasury Department will provide training and other assistance to Colombian law enforcement agencies and to Colombian government counter-corruption efforts.
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Human Rights Establish Human Rights Task Forces: $25M These units, modeled after successful U.S. organized crime task forces, will consist of specially trained prosecutors and investigators who work in a task force to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have committed or directed serious human rights abuses. The first such task force has recently begun operating from Bogota and is made up of approximately 26 prosecutors and approximately 45 investigators. Additional units will be established throughout Colombia.
Provide technical assistance and logistical support to Colombian government agencies and civil society organizations working to improve the human rights situation in Colombia. In the area of prevention, support will be given to improve the capacity to create and operate an early warning and rapid response system, as well as to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities and how to take preventive action or recourse in case of violations. In the area of monitoring, the program will promote efforts in policy development; national leadership coordination and monitoring by the Colombian government, local reporting and citizen assistance in cases of abuse; and monitoring and reporting of human rights abuses.
Provide protection to those individuals, groups and organizations faced with real or potential threats of physical violence because of their work in the promotion of human rights. The program will work with the Ministry of the Interior and its relevant counterparts to improve the administration and operation of the current Colombian government protection program. In addition, "soft" protection, such as safeguards, radio communications networks, support for defenders forced into temporary exile, and "hard" protection, such as bulletproof vests and armored vehicles, will be provided.
Operational Expenses and Human Rights Cases
For the administration and implementation of demobilization and rehabilitation activities for child soldiers in Colombia.
Increase Embassy Bogota and Department staffing in order to enhance monitoring and reporting capabilities as well as to meet new requirements. Funds will also be used to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to monitor the information necessary for its increased reporting responsibilities, contributing to promoting the protection of human rights.
Support the Bogota Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The funds will be used to monitor and elevate awareness of the human rights situation, strengthen the performance and abilities of UNCHR, and enhance its contributions to promoting the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
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Prosecutor Training: $4M Colombian Prosecutor's Office has agreed to a comprehensive training program for its prosecutors and police investigators in a team approach to case work. The Colombian Prosecutor's Office will train all prosecutors in:
Oral Accusatory Public Trials and Training of Judges: $3.5M This program supports Colombian government efforts to make the judicial system more transparent, accountable and compliant with Colombian regulation and law through use of oral, accusatory public trials. The Superior Judiciary Council is preparing procedural regulations for the conduct of these courts. Prosecutorial aspects of the implementation of oral accusatory public trials will be coordinated with the office of the Prosecutor General, with technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice. As the procedural development takes place, this program will assist the Superior Judiciary Council in selecting and refurbishing courtrooms so that oral accusatory trials can begin. In addition, training in oral accusatorial trials will be coordinated among judges, public defenders and prosecutors.
This program is intended to help the Colombian government improve the impartiality of the judicial system by assuring due process of law and providing adequate representation of poor defendants by public defenders. The program will assist in training public defenders in both legal representation and in the legal aspects of assuring human rights. The program will provide additional training for the trained cadres of public defenders and will assist the Colombian government formally to strengthen the public defender's institutional base to improve its technical and management capacities.
Casas de Justicia (Houses of Justice) are free legal aid and mediation centers, first created in 1995 between USAID and the Colombian Ministry of Justice. The Casas facilitate access by citizens, particularly those in marginal communities, to justice by addressing violence and other day-to-day problems. The strategy contributes to efforts to create a social culture of conflict resolution through non-violent mechanisms. This inter-institutional program includes a public defender, local prosecutor, qualified conciliators/mediators, and representatives from the Attorney General's Office, Family Welfare Institute, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Superintendency of Notarial Services, Community Development Office and Police Inspection, among others. Policy Reform -- Criminal Code: $1.5M In support of Colombia's transition to a modern accusatorial system of criminal justice, this program will assist in implementing and modifying as necessary Colombia's recently enacted criminal procedure code, criminal code and related statutes. Public education programs through governmental and non-governmental entities will also be supported to ensure due process and transparency. Policy Reform-Enabling Environment: $1.0M This program will promote policy dialogue and informed public debate necessary to permit needed reforms in the judicial system as well as to increase substantially public trust. In addition to direct work with the Colombian government, the program also promotes participation of interested Colombian NGOs and universities in the promotion of policy reforms, procedural changes or reinterpretation of current law.
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Asset Forfeiture/Money-Laundering Task Force/Anti-corruption program/Asset Management Program/Financial Crime Program Counter-narcotics Investigative Units: $15.0M This project will assist the Colombian government in forming specially trained task forces, developing effective systems for managing and disposing of seized assets and in strengthening efforts to support accountable and transparent government.
This is a comprehensive program to investigate and prosecute narcotics-related financial crimes, including the so-called "Black Market Peso Exchange."
This program enhances training of correction staff, beginning by implementing procedures and policies at the new prison located at Valledupar.
This program will support the development of a unified law enforcement training academy for all Colombian police investigators. The program will include selection of an appropriate site and design for a training facility followed by implementation of a curriculum with appropriate instructors and resources.
This program supports and expands a U.S.-Colombian initiative to investigate, prosecute, and arrest transnational narcotics traffickers and money launders and to coordinate activities with other Latin American and Caribbean nations.
This program provides technical assistance and training to the Colombian government for improved supervision of the financial sector.
This program provides training assistance for a comprehensive maritime and port security program, including coordination with the Counter-narcotics Task Force, the Customs Police and the Financial Intelligence Unit. This program also supports Colombian government efforts to monitor and revise the relationship between the Colombian Prosecutor's Office and the Colombian Navy with respect to the collection, transfer and preservation of evidence.
This program supports curriculum development and needs assessment for training members of the Colombian Customs Service (DIAN). This will include development of training programs and evaluation of resource needs to develop investigative capacities as well as border inspections and controls. The program also funds training and support for Colombian customs police affiliated with the Colombian Customs Service as well as support for revenue collection.
Train and support the activities of a dedicated cadre of Colombian military human rights/law of war trainers that will travel to all Colombian military units to implement a standard training program on human rights and law of war. Training will be conducted at the Judge Advocate General's School and in Colombia.
Strengthen the Colombian government's capacity to investigate and prosecute kidnapping and extortion. The program will be multi-faceted, including the development of an operations center to coordinate intelligence and information sharing and the development of a task force to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes.
Work with the Colombian Armed Forces to begin developing a new school for a Judge Advocates General Corps.
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The United States agrees fully with the Colombian government that the only permanent solution to the problems of Colombia is a permanent peace. The U.S. government fully supports the peace process and agrees fully with President Pastrana's assessment that a solution to the country's civil conflict is essential to the solution of all the other problems facing Colombia. U.S. support for Plan Colombia includes a program to assist the Government of Colombia to evaluate its negotiation strategies and to refine approaches to the numerous social and economic issues that surround negotiations, as well as foster further commitment to the establishment of peace in Colombia. In support of these initiatives, grants will be provided to a variety of Colombian and U.S. institutions, including universities, NGOs and other civil society organizations, to undertake local research, workshops, conferences, training, operational projects and internships.
Bolivia -- Alternative Development: $85M Ecuador -- Alternative Development/Northern Border: $8M
Ecuador -- $12M Total: $55M
Kmax Helicopters - $32M
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Eradication activities in Putumayo follow two distinct approaches based on the characteristics of the local coca cultivation. In areas where small, family-based coca holdings predominate, and which lie largely along Putumayo's more populated North-South highway, the Colombian government will offer coca cultivators the opportunity to eradicate voluntarily those areas of coca production. In exchange, they will receive commitments from the Colombian government to refrain from aerial spraying in these areas for at least 12 months. They will also receive social and technical assistance programs to help them convert to licit activities. Alternative development and other programs to strengthen local communities will then expand into neighboring departments. Meanwhile, aerial eradication of agro-business, industrial-scale plots will continue and intensify. An intensive, coordinated program of aerial eradication began in southern Colombia in December 2000, coincident with the beginning of the dry season, when aerial eradication is most effective. This also coincided with the completion of training by the Colombian Army's Second Counter-Narcotics Battalion and the arrival of the UH-1N helicopters, needed to provide transportation for it and the First Counter-Narcotics Battalion. After the first twelve months of aerial eradication elsewhere in Putumayo, those communities in the alternative development area that have chosen not to participate in the voluntary eradication program may be subject to possible aerial eradication. This does not mean that spray operations will begin immediately at the end of the twelve-month period. But it leaves aerial eradication available as an option for Colombian authorities to use in combating coca cultivation. The only chemical used for aerial eradication under U.S. Support for Plan Colombia is glyphosate. Glyphosate is one of the least harmful herbicides available on the world market. It enters a plant through contact with its leaves and only kills plants that are above ground at the time of spraying. It stops acting as a herbicide when it comes into contact with the soil. There, it is quickly broken down by microorganisms and readily and completely biodegrades in the soil. Thus, the rejuvenation of plant growth (naturally or through replanting) can begin immediately after spraying. Glyphosate bonds tightly to the soil; thus there is little runoff into watersheds. Glyphosate has been tested, evaluated and approved for sale in the United States and Colombia. Worldwide, it is among the most widely used herbicides by volume and is currently employed in over 100 countries for a variety of agricultural purposes, as well as in home gardening. Glyphosate is used in conservation tillage in millions of acres in the United States, Argentina, and Brazil to replace conventional tillage. It is similarly used by coffee growers in Colombia to prevent erosion in sloping areas. Indeed, 90% of all the glyphosate used in Colombia is for commercial agricultural purposes. U.S. support for eradication efforts in southern Colombia includes a major support program for training three Counter-Narcotics Battalions of the Colombian Army and a Counter-Narcotics Brigade Staff. Training for the First Counter-Narcotics Battalion was completed at the end of 1999. Training for the Second Counter-Narcotics Battalion was completed at the end of 2000. Training for the Third Counter-Narcotics Battalion began shortly thereafter. The Counter-Narcotics Brigade will be headquartered at Tres Esquinas. U.S. support for Plan Colombia has a very strong human rights component. Human rights training is a prominent and integral part of all aspects of training the U.S. military provides to the Counter-Narcotics Battalions and Brigade staff. Moreover, all U.S. assistance to the Colombian fuerzas publicas is provided strictly in accordance with the "Leahy Amendment," which requires that no assistance be provided to any unit of the security forces for which there is credible evidence of the commission of violations of human rights. The U.S. Government is firmly committed to this provision of U.S. law and has a rigorous process in place to screen those units that receive U.S. assistance. U.S. support for Plan Colombia includes major funding for helicopters and helicopter support to the Colombian Armed Forces and to the CNP. These helicopters provide the capacity for rapid air transportation of Colombian "fuerzas publicas" to break up drug laboratories, to protect eradication missions and to interdict drug trafficking activities. U.S. support for Plan Colombia also includes funding for infrastructure and improved logistical support for the helicopters as well as pilot and other helicopter training. U.S. support for Plan Colombia provides significant additional funding for the CNP, the primary law enforcement agency of the Colombian government with responsibility for eradication of illicit narcotics and for the arrest of narcotics traffickers. U.S. funding includes further helicopter support and additional spray aircraft, as well as associated training and infrastructure support. U.S. assistance to Plan Colombia supports Colombian efforts in the areas of narcotics eradication and interdiction. U.S. assistance does not provide counter-insurgency support in Colombia. The Secretary of Defense has issued orders prohibiting U.S. personnel from participating in any combat operation. The U.S. Congress has capped the number of U.S. military personnel allowed in Colombia at any time at 500; similarly, the U.S. Congress has capped the number of civilian personnel contracted in support of Plan Colombia at 300. U.S. military personnel provide training, equipment and intelligence support to Colombian forces.
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U.S. Support for Eradication, including Southern Colombia:
Total U.S. Funding to Support Plan Colombia Eradication, including Southern Colombia: $416.9M
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U.S. interdiction support for Plan Colombia contains several key elements. These include improvements to Colombian aircraft, provision of ground-based radars and intelligence support, along with support to the Colombian Army for ground interdiction, and to the Colombian Navy and Marines for maritime and riverine interdiction. All aspects of U.S. support for Plan Colombia, including interdiction programs, are directed at narcotics traffickers, those individuals and organizations that are involved in the cultivation of coca or opium poppy, and the subsequent production and transportation of cocaine and heroin to the United States. Only those armed elements that forcibly inhibit or confront counter-drug operations will be engaged under the U.S. support effort to Plan Colombia. U.S. Department of Defense personnel will not accompany Colombian armed forces on operational missions.
Tracker Aircraft Modification. U.S. support will provide modifications for two Colombian Air Force C-26 Merlin aircraft by installing APG-66 air-to-air radars, Forward Looking Infrared Radars (FLIRs), and communications equipment. The completed aircraft will give Colombia a capability to track and intercept illegal smuggling aircraft that move the cocaine from laboratories in southeastern Colombia to the Colombian coasts for transshipment to the United States. AC-47 Aircraft Modifications. U.S. support will provide infra-red night vision devices (FLIRs) in one of the three operational Colombian AC-47 aircraft. The FLIR will greatly enhance the aircraft's ability to support night operations against drug smuggling activities. U.S. support also will modify an additional Colombian DC-3, converting it into an AC-47 aircraft with FLIR, night vision cockpit, and fire control systems. This will be the 5th AC-47 in the Colombian inventory. Ground Based Radars. U.S. support will provide for the installation of a ground-based radar at Tres Esquinas. This will provide positive air control for the Counter-Narcotics Brigade helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that operate in the region and will improve detection and monitoring of smuggling air activity in the Putumayo region. Radar Command and Control. U.S. support will provide a modern and operationally effective radar control system, located in Bogota, capable of monitoring multiple radar sites throughout Colombia. It will support positive control of Colombian Air Force air interdiction operations throughout Colombia. Andean Ridge Intelligence Collection. This ongoing program provides Colombia with critical intelligence against drug smuggling activities. It provides for collection sites located in critical areas throughout the drug cultivation and trafficking regions. Ground Interdiction. U.S. support will be used to initiate a Colombian program to control drug smuggling on the major roads across the Andes and those roads feeding the cocaine trans-shipment regions on the northern coast and western coasts of Colombia. Maritime and Riverine Interdiction. U.S. support will sustain and upgrade maritime and riverine operations and provide infrastructure support for Point Class Boats used in riverine interdiction operations.
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Total U.S. Funding to Support Plan Colombia Narcotics Interdiction Efforts: $378.6M
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Judicial System | Regional Concerns | Peace Process | Eradication | Interdiction | Top Total Social Component of U.S. Support for Plan Colombia: $ 321M
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