LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE: January 2004
Colombia
The final
2004 foreign aid bill was rolled together with a number of
other spending bills into an $820 billion "omnibus"
bill passed in early December. The allocations for aid to
Colombia total approximately $570 million, 80% of which is
funding for the military and police.
As one of the largest producers of oil in the world today
Colombia's pipelines are continuing rebel targets. In an effort
to protect these interests, US Special Forces have begun training
Colombian forces in Arauca province. Since August '02, $99
million has been spent to protect the Caño Limon-Coveñas
pipeline in Arauca. 44% of the pipeline is controlled by US
based Occidental Petroleum. In 2004 $110 million of Colombia's
funding will go toward training to protect the pipeline. The
Latin American Working Group estimates that this protection
amounts to about a $3-a-barrel subsidy for Occidental.
Initially, the stated goal of Plan Colombia encompassed curbing
drug production in Colombia through extensive crop fumigation;
supporting human rights by strengthening the judicial system,
de-linking the military from paramilitary groups and prosecution
those responsible for human rights violations. Last year the
mission was expanded to include counter-insurgent efforts.
The US "war on terrorism" has created a new mandate
validating the buildup of US military training and equipment
to now fight rebels. Little has been done to further the requirements
set out in Plan Colombia.
Much of the lobbying this fall advocated for debate on the
direction of US policy in Colombia. Complacency within Congress
and the administration has been one of the largest barriers
to funding and policy accountability. If military funding
and pipeline protection are not objectives you want your tax
dollars to support your representatives need to hear loudly
from you.
Put
the pressure on:
- The presidential primaries are fertile ground for raising
awareness about US Colombia policy and creating debate on
the topic. Please consider raising questions on Colombia
policy to candidates as they come to Colorado.
- Call and write your US Representatives and Senators expressing
your concern over failure of US policy to tackle the issues,
urge them to change the focus of the war on drugs to prevention
and treatment at home
CAFTA
At the final round of CAFTA negotiations in mid-December Costa
Rica walked away from the table. The stable Central American
nation cited concern over privatization in its telecommunication
and insurance sectors, as well as medical costs, agriculture
and intellectual property rights as reason for leaving the
negotiations. Representatives from the Office of the US Trade
Rep. have downplayed the failure to reach a comprehensive
agreement stating that Costa Rica needed further time to negotiate
and would hopefully restart negotiations with the US in January.
Outside analysts predict the Costa Rican action will create
a slowdown in the CAFTA process as well as slow the timetable
of the FTAA, which is projected to complete negotiations by
January 2005. As Central America's most stable country, economically
and socially, Costa Rica possesses more relative capacity
than other C.A. nations to stand up to the US on these though
trade issues. Costa Rican trade officials said they would
possibly return to negotiations in January 2004.
From January 12th to 16th US Trade Rep Robert Zoellick plans
to hold the first of three rounds of talks with the Dominican
Republic to discuss the possibility of the Dominican Republic
joining CAFTA. The D.R. has the largest economy of all the
countries in the Caribbean Basin region. The Office of the
US Trade Rep. reports that the combined markets of the Dominican
Republic and the Central American countries would create the
largest US export market in Latin America after Mexico.
CAFTA is expected to come to Congress for an up or down vote
sometime this spring. The fast track trade status means less
debate on CAFTA in congress. Make CAFTA and free trade a campaign
issue for the 2004 Presidential Election. Ask the tough questions
of the candidates and President Bush. Candidate Rep. Dick
Gephardt is quoted as saying President Bush was "selling
out American workers with a bad trade deal".
Take
action to support fair and equitable trade:
- Help to educate your Senators and US Representatives
on the implications of the agreement. Speak out for fair
agreements that raise labor standards and support transparent
democratic processes.
- Make CAFTA an issue in the 2004 Presidential campaign,
by holding the candidates accountable to issue important
to you.
Click
here for a sample letter
Cuba
In November behind closed doors Republican leaders cut down
recent successes on US policy toward Cuba that were made in
the House of Representatives and Senate. Earlier in the fall
both houses of Congress passed legislation that would have
removed the ban on travel to Cuba. The travel ban amendment
to the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill passed
in the House 227-188 and in the Senate 59-36.
This amendment was cut from the FY04 Transportation -Treasury
Appropriations bill in a close door congressional committee
session before the committee had formally begun. The proposed
action to end the travel ban is supported by a majority of
Americans and their elected representatives. President Bush
had threatened to veto any legislation that included weakened
restrictions on travel to Cuba. But, it would have been difficult
for him to veto the amendment with so much bi-partisan congressional
support. This action by Republican leadership has undermined
the democratic process in this country.
What you can do:
· Contact your Senators and US Representatives letting
them know you support the end of the travel ban to Cuba. Tell
them you do not accept the subversion of democracy by the
Republican leadership.
· Email President Bush with the same message: president@whitehouse.gov
What
You Can Do:
- Contact your Senators and US Representatives
letting them know you support the end of the travel ban
to Cuba. Tell them you do not accept the subversion of democracy
by the Republican leadership.
- Email
President Bush with the same message: president@whitehouse.gov
Resources
for Guatemala:
Click
here for addresses of Guatemalan Officials
Resources
for closing the School of the Americas:
Click
here for a sample letter supporting the close of theSOA |
