The end of armed conflict that has plagued Colombia for more than half a century is closer than ever. The government of President Juan Manuel Santos is the first that can be raised "in a realistic way" to achieve this goal, according to Defense Minister says the South American country, Rodrigo Rivera (Pereira, 1963).
The gains in security in Colombia, he says, have managed to lower rates of violence and reduce the production of cocaine in his country, the world's largest producer. The Colombian government estimates suggest that cease to be in 2012. The Colombian politician, an attorney, visited Madrid before heading to Paris where he asked members of the G-8 "greater responsibility" in the fight against drug trafficking.
Question. The president Juan Manuel Santos said in April that Colombia at the end of armed conflict and that his government is in the final stages to finish with the guerrillas. How long to end the FARC? Response. This is the first government that can realistically raise the goal to end this violence.
In previous governments could hope to reduce it, but thanks to advances in recent years in the security policy in Colombia, which have been dramatically positive, the government of President Santos can raise that goal and we're working on it. What we believe is that if we turn this into a national purpose and articulate all the State forces around this purpose we are going to get.
We know that wars are not won by armies but nations. We want a public purpose and perseverance in the pursuit of these goals can improve our intelligence and integrate the efforts of more military and police forces. P. Is there a collaboration with neighboring governments on this issue? R.
The great articulator of violence, not only in Colombia but throughout the region, is drug trafficking. It is the hinge, the foundation by which all crime, domestic and international, is fed into the region. In Venezuela we have just signed on 9 April an agreement of cooperation against the world drug problem that affects both countries.
We have agreements with Panama and plans to sign similar agreements with Ecuador and Peru. And this corresponds to a policy of diplomacy for the security that is leading the President Santos. Not enough raging our military offensive against these narco-terrorist groups in Colombia if we have a fragile border.
Need to be strengthened and this can only be done with a very proactive understanding with the countries of the region and we are doing. P. Better cooperation now that a few years ago then? R. I look forward. The cooperation that we have today is good and should work to improve it. P. What progress have security? R.
It has advanced significantly. In the past reached 30,000 people die violently every year in Colombia. The previous year the figure was 15,000. And keep dropping. Data from the first months of this year reflect a reduction in killings of more than 8% over the same period last year. P. The State Department warned last year that calls Criminal gangs (BACRIM) were the main threat to the Colombian State, what measures have been taken in this regard? R.
The good news is that there are no major drug cartels. Colombia has been so resolute in the fight against the mafias that have lost much power. We have identified seven groups, two or three are the strongest. Drug trafficking groups are fundamentally rooted in rural areas of the country to play a liaison role with the international markets for illicit drugs.
We're cracking down. There are only 33 and seven. P. In an appearance before Congress that BACRIM could be linked to the FARC. Is it so? R. Today the FARC is the main drug gang in Colombia. His relations with the international drug market are mediated by these criminal gangs. No longer represent a political or ideological, are criminals by greed, lured by the profits from the sale of drugs.
In the particular case of the FARC are beginning to migrate from the illegal financing of drug trafficking to finance through the illegal exploitation of mines, pillaging natural resources, leading in some cases an ecocide. What they are doing in some river basins in Colombia is terrible.
The government began operations in October to curb these activities. P. Holds the same portfolio that President Santos in the previous government. "Defense is still a priority for Colombia? R. Definitely. What the president said Santos in his first visit to the Ministry. In Colombia, unlike what happens in other countries, the Ministry of Defense not only brings together military forces but also to the police, and that gives an idea of the strength that the Ministry of Defence, as the foundation of the rest State.
P. In Mexico there is a debate to focus law enforcement on a single body, what lessons can be shared from your experience? R. You can not have the same security policy when fighting an individual offender when a State faces organized crime. Only national security forces can cope very powerful, and not alone.
Require the support of other countries. Drug trafficking is a major destabilizing democracy. P. Is there victory in the war on drugs? R. Colombia is proving to be gained. But there must be an effort of all countries, not a few. All links in the chain must be involved. Not only the production and distribution, but consumption and money laundering.
It is not only a public health problem. Colombia is a good witness in one country for the trafficking and consumption of drugs.
The gains in security in Colombia, he says, have managed to lower rates of violence and reduce the production of cocaine in his country, the world's largest producer. The Colombian government estimates suggest that cease to be in 2012. The Colombian politician, an attorney, visited Madrid before heading to Paris where he asked members of the G-8 "greater responsibility" in the fight against drug trafficking.
Question. The president Juan Manuel Santos said in April that Colombia at the end of armed conflict and that his government is in the final stages to finish with the guerrillas. How long to end the FARC? Response. This is the first government that can realistically raise the goal to end this violence.
In previous governments could hope to reduce it, but thanks to advances in recent years in the security policy in Colombia, which have been dramatically positive, the government of President Santos can raise that goal and we're working on it. What we believe is that if we turn this into a national purpose and articulate all the State forces around this purpose we are going to get.
We know that wars are not won by armies but nations. We want a public purpose and perseverance in the pursuit of these goals can improve our intelligence and integrate the efforts of more military and police forces. P. Is there a collaboration with neighboring governments on this issue? R.
The great articulator of violence, not only in Colombia but throughout the region, is drug trafficking. It is the hinge, the foundation by which all crime, domestic and international, is fed into the region. In Venezuela we have just signed on 9 April an agreement of cooperation against the world drug problem that affects both countries.
We have agreements with Panama and plans to sign similar agreements with Ecuador and Peru. And this corresponds to a policy of diplomacy for the security that is leading the President Santos. Not enough raging our military offensive against these narco-terrorist groups in Colombia if we have a fragile border.
Need to be strengthened and this can only be done with a very proactive understanding with the countries of the region and we are doing. P. Better cooperation now that a few years ago then? R. I look forward. The cooperation that we have today is good and should work to improve it. P. What progress have security? R.
It has advanced significantly. In the past reached 30,000 people die violently every year in Colombia. The previous year the figure was 15,000. And keep dropping. Data from the first months of this year reflect a reduction in killings of more than 8% over the same period last year. P. The State Department warned last year that calls Criminal gangs (BACRIM) were the main threat to the Colombian State, what measures have been taken in this regard? R.
The good news is that there are no major drug cartels. Colombia has been so resolute in the fight against the mafias that have lost much power. We have identified seven groups, two or three are the strongest. Drug trafficking groups are fundamentally rooted in rural areas of the country to play a liaison role with the international markets for illicit drugs.
We're cracking down. There are only 33 and seven. P. In an appearance before Congress that BACRIM could be linked to the FARC. Is it so? R. Today the FARC is the main drug gang in Colombia. His relations with the international drug market are mediated by these criminal gangs. No longer represent a political or ideological, are criminals by greed, lured by the profits from the sale of drugs.
In the particular case of the FARC are beginning to migrate from the illegal financing of drug trafficking to finance through the illegal exploitation of mines, pillaging natural resources, leading in some cases an ecocide. What they are doing in some river basins in Colombia is terrible.
The government began operations in October to curb these activities. P. Holds the same portfolio that President Santos in the previous government. "Defense is still a priority for Colombia? R. Definitely. What the president said Santos in his first visit to the Ministry. In Colombia, unlike what happens in other countries, the Ministry of Defense not only brings together military forces but also to the police, and that gives an idea of the strength that the Ministry of Defence, as the foundation of the rest State.
P. In Mexico there is a debate to focus law enforcement on a single body, what lessons can be shared from your experience? R. You can not have the same security policy when fighting an individual offender when a State faces organized crime. Only national security forces can cope very powerful, and not alone.
Require the support of other countries. Drug trafficking is a major destabilizing democracy. P. Is there victory in the war on drugs? R. Colombia is proving to be gained. But there must be an effort of all countries, not a few. All links in the chain must be involved. Not only the production and distribution, but consumption and money laundering.
It is not only a public health problem. Colombia is a good witness in one country for the trafficking and consumption of drugs.
- Letters: Colombia defends its justice system (06/05/2011)
- Venezuela Deports FARC Suspect to Colombia (26/04/2011)
- Colombia sends reputed drug kingpin to Venezuela (09/05/2011)
- Alleged FARC rebel deported by Venezuela (26/04/2011)
- Colombia Has Been Using US Drones Since 2006 (24/03/2011)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (wikipedia) Colombian rebels FARC after their chief 'Mono Jojoy' got killed (youtube) Frost over the World - Juan Manuel Santos (youtube) Hugo Chavez en la Cumbre del Grupo Río 4ta parte (youtube) Colombia (lonelyplanet) Colombia (geolocation) Colombia (wikipedia)
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