Lutheran World Relief Applauds Cut in U.S. Military Aid to Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Lutheran World Relief Applauds Cut in U.S. Military Aid to Colombia

Baltimore, January 15, 2008 — Over the last seven years, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has mobilized thousands of Lutherans across the United States to advocate for a reduction in military aid to Colombia. The hard work of many advocates, organizations and others, including LWR, seems to be paying off. After much anticipation, important elements of the 2008 Foreign Aid Bill were signed into law by President George Bush on December 26, including a nearly $150 million decrease in military aid to Colombia compared to 2007 levels. This omnibus spending bill represents the first time U.S. military support to Colombia has been reduced since 2001.

The bill establishes a new balance between military and economic aid, allocating 56.6 percent of funds for military spending and 43.4 percent for social and economic aid. This change increases support for economic development to nearly $236 million. More specifically, the bill includes $15 million in development aid for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, and restricts investment in oil palm development if deemed to cause internal displacement, or environmental damage.

“LWR welcomes this new legislation,” explains Rebecca Phares, director of public policy and advocacy for the organization. “We represent a strong religious voice on the issue of military assistance to Colombia. With support from Lutheran congregations, and our coalition partners, LWR has long advocated for a Colombia policy that meets the true needs of Colombia’s people — economic security, human rights and peace — not a bolstered military. LWR considers this bill to be the first step towards U.S. support for sustained peace in Colombia.”

With this bill, the U.S. government manifests more support for human rights in Colombia than in years past. Thirty percent of all aid is now conditioned on Colombia’s ability to demonstrate an improvement in human rights standards. It also includes conditions requiring the Colombian military to respect Afro-Colombian and indigenous territory —populations particularly vulnerable to forced displacement.

More:
http://lwr.org/news/news.asp?LWRnewsDate=1/15/2008