|
The Institute for Ethics and Economic
Policy (IEEP) |
|
||
|
Colombia’s Congress Approves Political
Reform Bill.
Colombian troops stole rebel money. It was reported that Colombian army soldiers have stole millions of dollars in rebel drug money they found while searching for a mass grave deep in the country’s southern jungles. The buried money was surrounded by land mines, one of which exploded and injured one of the soldiers. Officials became suspicious when members from the two companies quit after transferring to new posts or deserted. Others bought pickup trucks and other items that are well beyond a soldier’s budget. General Francisco Rene Pedraza, commander of the army’s 3rd Division said that the men behaved differently, compared to the way soldiers normally. Officials have arrested 40 soldiers, including three officers, and issued arrest warrants for 107 others. (Chicago Tribune, May 21, 2003 summary by Sherldine Tomlinson).
ARMY IN REBEL MONEY SCAM More than 100 colombian soldiers are being investigated for corruption after finding a guerrilla cache with a huge sum of money inside and falling to report it. The troops allegedly decided to share the money, which is believed to belong to the country's largest rebel group, FARC, among themselves. Many of them submitted their resignation from the army, whilst others simply disappeared. Three officers and 16 NCOs have already been arrested in connection with the incident. . (BBC News 20 May, 2003, summary by Hanh Vu).
Uribe signs bill targeting illegally obtained PROPERTY Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
signed into law a bill shortening from two years to four months the time
required for judicial proceedings to confiscate assets linked to criminal
activity. The legislation is aimed at fighting drug trafficking, kidnapping,
corruption and other illicit means of obtaining property. The law also
proposes a new system for paying rewards to individuals who tip off
authorities to properties acquired with illicit funds or money obtained unlawfully.
The law grants owners of seized property three months to explain the source
of income used in the purchase. (Northern
Light News (EFE), January 3, 2003, summary by Sherldine Tomlinson). President planning to push anti-corruption referendum . Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
said that he will focus his efforts in the coming months on a referendum
against corruption in government and banning the legal possession of small
amounts of drugs. The referendum itself will allow Colombians to vote on
creating new and numerous grounds to bar political aspirants from running for
elected office, doing away with the system of reserve lawmakers, reducing the
number of congressional seats and eliminating provincial and municipal
agencies that control public expenditure. (Northern Light News, December 23, 2002 summary by Sherldine
Tomlinson). Bogotá, DRUG BOSS ALLEGEDLY OFFERING 15M DOLLARS TO AVOID EXTRADITION TO USA. Patino Fomeque is believed to be the fifth highest member of the infamous Cali drug cartel. Recently, President Alvaro Uribe authorized Patino Fomeque's extradition to the United States, after the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice held that the extradition request was legal. Nevertheless, according to the director of the National Institute of Prisons and Penitentiaries, "drug traffickers have money and try to bribe people in order to escape." Patino Fomeque is allegedly willing to pay 15m US dollars to escape from prison and avoid extradition to the United States. (El Espectador web site, BBC Monitoring Service, December 3, 2002, summary by Pavlidis George).
gov’t denounces bribery, urges maximum punishment. According to
the Colombian government, three city council members arrested for their
alleged part in bribery should receive the most severe punishment allowed by
the law. The three were arrested as they allegedly took possession of a
suitcase filled with 100 million pesos ($37,000) in bills. According to
police, the seizure was presumably one-fourth of the total bribe offered to
the council members to vote against a strict regulation that would prohibit
peddlers on Bogotá streets. (Northern Light News,
December 10, 2002, summary by
Sherldine Tomlinson). Colombia starts corruption purge Colombia’s government have removed
more than 150 customs officials after an investigation uncovered
irregularities at four ports on the Caribbean coast, said Mario Aranguren,
head of the national tax and national customs directorate. The country
appeared below Brazil and Peru but level with Mexico and above Venezuela and
Argentina. Colombia has a long history of smuggling, which has been linked to
the laundering of profits from the country’s huge illegal drugs industry.
Over the past two years DIAN reached agreements to try to curb contraband
with international manufacturers and distributors of electrical goods,
cigarettes and alcoholic drinks. (Financial Times, October 28, 2002, summary
by Sherldine Tomlinson). POLICE INVESTIGATED FOR AID CORRUPTION. It was reported that officials in Colombia has stated that 60 members of the police service are being investigated in connection with the disappearance of more than $2m dollars of US aid. The list includes top anti-drugs officials. A statement issued by the attorney general's office said they were being investigated for irregularities in the handling and spending of money donated by the American government for anti-drugs operations. It said the irregularities included double billing, lack of supervision and control, and the alleged purchase of unauthorised goods. Correspondents say the scandal threatens to undermine Washington's support for Colombia's fight against drugs and terrorism. (BBC News, June 12, 2002, summary by Sherldine Tomlinson). Government to present political reform plan The Colombian government has announced its plans to submit a political reform plan, which would include proposals to reduce the number of legislators in Congress and to make voting obligatory. Interior Minister Armando Estrada said the plan, would tighten requirements on the financing of political parties. Under the plan, the government will finance the congressional and presidential campaign costs for candidates. President Pastrana has pointed out that the current standard for campaign finance has allowed “corrupt” politicians to use private donations to access legislative power. The reform plan will also reduce the number of legislators. However, it is not known how many members of each house would have if the plan were approved. Congress presently has 102 senators and 166 representatives in the Lower House. It is noted that the proposal would also make voting obligatory and continue to allow blank ballots in presidential elections. If get elected, candidates who are challenging Pastrana for presidency in this year election say that they would favour the political reform plans. (The News Mexico, April 2, 2002, summary by Sherldine Tomlinson). Gunmen kill archbishop, corruption critic An unidentified gunman open fire and killed a Roman Catholic archbishop who strongly opposed drug money corruption. The archbishop was conducting a wedding mass ceremony before he was killed. It was reported that before the shooting a massive power blackout occurred. It is believed that the black outs was link to the shooting. Before his death the archbishop openly said that he knew about drugs money being used to fund congressional campaigns, but at the same time he refused to name the people who was involve. Archbishop Duarte Cancino has also publicly criticised leftist guerillas and other extreme groups who are involve in corruption. So far there has been no arrest in the slaying, but police suspect a Marxist guerilla group is responsible for the killing. (Yahoo News (Reuters), March 16, 2002, summary by Sherldine Tomlinson). Candidate Spoke of
Threats. Ingrid Betancourt, the
candidate that is running on an anti-corruption platform for the May 26
presidential election and favors negotiations rather than conflict to settle
Colombia´s civil war was in Coral Gables last month to give a lecture and
sign her book "Until Death Do Us Part: My Struggle to Reclaim
Colombia." and with the occasion gave documentary filmmaker Robyn Symon
a half-hour interview for "Madam President," about the challenges
faced by women who strive to be leaders of their countries. She believes that
a strong democracy can extinct guerrillas and that reforms may end the war.
Betancourt was kidnapped at a roadblock in a war zone by the FARC, the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, the rebels that hold prisoners
thousands of people every year. (Yahoo
News (Associated Press), February 27, 2002, summary by Monica Voitovici). CRIMINAL GANGS SELL KIDNAP VICTIMS TO GUERRILLAS A criminal network of gangs tied to corrupt armed groups, lowlifes, and sometimes involving government officials has recently been uncovered in which huge profits are received from kidnapping. The victims are subsequently sold to guerrillas of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) headed by mastermind, Rodrigo Bermudez Molina. The first expropriation of assets of those charged has been executed, and those charged include Bermudez; Jose Heber Pacheco Lopez; Guillermo Hernando Forero Gonzalez; and Edward Yesid Quiroga Sanchez. Several further warrants have been issued, however, the machinery of the ruthless crime rings yields enormous financial and political power. Other crime groups involved include: the ELN (Army of National Liberation); Los Calvos (The Bald Ones); Los Artisanos (the Artesians); Grupo Disuasion (Dissuasion Group); and Los Cargadores (The Lifters). (El Espectador, Jan. 6, 2002, summary by Marg Reynolds).
WE HONOR Ingrid Betacourt MP
NEW DRUGLORD GAINING POWER Hernan Giraldo Serna, brutal druglord of the Sierra Nevadas, together with his 400-man private army known as Los Chamizos, have joined a loose-knit coalition of right-wing anti-communist leaders to drive 20,000 Marxist guerillas out of many cocaine- and heroin-producing regions. He is believed to export $1.2 billion of narcotics, or forty percent of the country’s annual shipments to the United States and Europe, and may one day rival the late Pablo Escobar of the Medellin cartel. However, Washington’s multi-billion dollar drug eradication programs have been focussed on the guerillas and even some top drug warriors in Bogota have not heard of Giraldo. John Walters, conservative and strong advocate of drug-interdiction efforts in Latin America, has been appointed by the Bush administration for a policy review of Plan Colombia, a $7.5 billion program of Andres Pastrana, President, whose central aim is to half Colombia’s drug production. The situation is destabilizing rapidly, the United States has invested heavily, and has shifted its tack to fight members of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), which includes placing AUC head, Carlos Castano, on the second tier of its terrorist watch list. By contrast, leftist militias are considered first tier terror groups. Giraldo had been convicted of the massacre of twenty workers in 1989, but never served his twenty-year sentence. His narcotics shipments sail unhindered due to generous donations to port authorities, police, and politicians and the reclusive strongman inspires fear as the economic and political elite of Magdalena deny even having met him. The Bush administration may retreat from Plan Colombia as it is doubtful those such as Giraldo will be captured due to networks of informants throughout the region. (MSNBC News, May 21, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
COLOMBIA DRUG BOSS FLEES PRISON BEFORE U.S. TRANSFER Herbert Villafane, convicted drug trafficker, escaped from the maximum security prison, Itaquii compound, home to some of the country’s most-wanted men, by simply walking through the front gates in broad daylight. His escape occurred just weeks before his extradition to the United States, a measure revived because Colombian authorities feared they would be unable to hold their most-wanted criminals in prison. Villafane’s escape has resulted in the prison chief’s resignation and the suspension of eighty guards. The country is racked by prison breaks, often to free comrades of leftist rebels in the 37-year old war, which had claimed 40,000 mainly civilian lives. As the world’s largest cocaine producer, about twenty criminals have been extradited and fifty are awaiting Supreme Court rulings on extradition requests. (Yahoo News (Reuters), May 4, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
KIDNAPPED JOURNALIST AMONGST THREE CITED FOR COURAGE IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION CNN’s Judy Woodruff, a board member of the International Women’s Media Foundation, stated the journalists who will receive this year’s Courage in Journalism awards share a commitment to the highest standards in journalism. Amal Abbas, a Sudanese editor of the newspaper Al-Rai Al-Akher has been jailed and fined for her investigative pursuits revealing corruption amongst the officials of Sudan; Jineth Bedoya Lima returned to work after being kidnapped; and Carmen Gurruchaga, whose home was bombed by Basque separatists, will be honored at an awards ceremony in New York on October 16. (AP, May 3, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
WORLD BANK APPROVED A LOAN TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. The Public Financial Management Project II loan for $35.47 million was approved by the World Bank to enhance reforms initiated with a previous $30 million loan. Project II will strengthen revenue collection and expenditure management and also increase transparency and accountability in public resource management. Funds from Project I modernized tax administration information and integrated financial management systems, together with an evaluation system for public sector performance. (WB, Mar. 22, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
COMPTROLLER
GENERAL REQUESTS GOVERNMENT TO UNPLUG POWER PRIVITIZATIONS Carlos Ossa, Comptroller General,
together with Luis Perez, Medellin mayor, requested the government not
privitize the transmission company, ISA, and the generator company,
Isagen. The 1999 sale agreement of
Isagen with the IMF has been interrupted with the legal action of EPM, the
Medallin municipality-owned utilities company who wishes to stop them from
falling under private control.
Domestic and foreign private investors are receiving the wrong signal
as this goes against the position of free competition. (Business News Americas, Mar. 7, 2001,
summary by Marg Reynolds). FRANCE/COLOMBIA: CRUSADERS AGAINST CORRUPTION – EXCERPT In the interesting political movement today, informally known as the ‘global rebellion against corruption’, two brave women began a process of change and reform and refused to be intimidated by the power elites. Eva Joly, a judge in Paris, led the investigation into payoffs and thievery at the formerly state-owned oil company Elf Aquitaine. Ingrid Betacourt, Member of the Colombian House of Representatives, caused inquiries into big commission payments on a dubious arms deal and also probed into whether former President Ernesto Samper’s election campaign has been financed by drug lords. The women have explained their motivation and the movement they symbolize in recent memoirs. The complete article by David Ignatius of the Washington Post may be viewed at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17189-2001Mar3.html (WP, Mar. 4, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds).
FORMER LAWMAKER, MINISTER OF ANTI-CORRUPTIUON CRUSADE DEAD. William Jaramillo, former lawmaker and government minister, died on Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. During his career, he caused Gov. Rodrigo Uribe of Antioquia province to resign by charging him with misusing public funds and also brought similar charges against Bogota mayor, Diego Pardo. As mayor of Medellin, Jaramillo spoke out against Pablo Escobar, Colombian drug boss. (Yahoo News, AP, Mar. 1, 2001, summary by Marg Reynolds). Mr. Hiett, Army Colonel, in charge of 200 troops assigned for fighting narcotics traffickers, allegedly helped his wife Laurie Ann Hiett sell drugs via diplomatic mail and launder the money. She pleaded guilty in Jan., 2000. (NYT, Apr. 16, 2K, p. 36). Colombia Proposes National Pact To Pass Econ Reforms. See Item 11 for details. (April 28, 2000 Dow Jones Newswires) Clinton Wants Americas Trade Zone, Help For Colombia See Item 2 May 2, 2000 Dow Jones Newswires). BOGOTA, Colombia Proposes National Pact To Pass Econ Reforms. Congress focuses on debating a bill to hold a national referendum on anti-corruption measures, which would involve the dissolution of Congress and tough measures against corrupt politicians. (DJ News, April 28, 2000). WASHINGTON,
DC, USA. Clinton Wants Americas Trade Zone, Help For Colombia. President Bill
Clinton reiterated his commitment to build a free-trade zone encompassing all
of the Americas by 2005 and urged Latin-American countries to band together
to help Colombia battle narco-traffickers and left-wing guerrillas undercut
honest enterprise in favor of corruption, and undermine public confidence in
democracy. (D J Newswires, May 2, 2000). BOGOTA --Colombia Rebels May Partly
Accept “Plan Colombia”-- In an
apparent change of position, Colombia's largest rebel group said it didn't
entirely oppose the government's $7.5 billion “Plan Colombia” strategy to
fight drug trafficking and poverty. FARC statements came after U.S. President
Bill Clinton on Thursday signed a spending law that provides $1.3 billion for
the war on drugs in Colombia, which produces 80% of the world's cocaine. A
spokesperson for the group said -
“One cannot be talking peace and preparing for more war.” (DJ News,
July 14, 2000) (Business Recorder, 23.8.00, http://www.brecorder.com/story/S00DD/SDH23/SDH23279.htm) The Index of Economic Freedom (by Driscoll-Holmes-Kirkpatrick) for 2001 places Columbia in the “Mostly Free” category with a rank of 70 (Ranks range from 1 for Hong Kong to 155 for North Korea, Wall Street Journal, Nov. 1, 2000). H. D. Vinod’s trimmed correlation analysis indicates that countries free from economic regulation are less corrupt. After allowing for some exceptions by 20% trimming, the correlation is near 0.9. |
|
||
|
Design:
Theo den Brinker |
Copyright:
Hrishikesh D. Vinod 2000 |
Last
Updated: |
|
