Colombia Colombia emerged from the collapse of the Gran Colombia in 1830. Since then the country has struggled with internal threats, illicit drug production, and estranged relations with neighboring nations. In a country slightly less than twice the size of Texas and claiming over 46,000,000 citizens, Colombia faces many challenges in its efforts to resolve internal conflict, reduce narcotics operations, improve the environment, and repair relationships in the region. Threats The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the largest, oldest, and most influential threat group operating in Colombia. FARC targets government officials and military forces in jungle and urban environments with land mines, ambushes, kidnappings, and snipers. As of late 2012, however, representatives of FARC and the Colombian government are engaging in peace talks in Havana. In March 2014, FARC negotiator Jesus Emilio Carvajalino reported that his group had brought nearly 250 proposals to the negotiating table while appealing for power in distinct political sectors through congressional elections back home. At the same time, FARC continues to spread its influence through militant attacks and violent protests against the government. In August 2013, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered 50,000 soldiers into the capital city of Bogota to quell violent demonstrations by farmers and rural groups upset with government policies they claimed are negatively affecting their lives. “[T]he Santos government has accused the rebels [FARC] of infiltrating the protests in an attempt to stir unrest and force the president to make concessions at the negotiating table . . . FARC has been increasing its political dominance in swathes of rural Colombia,” ... ... middle of paper ... ....uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/10277412/Troops-deployed-in-Colombian-capital-amid-deadly-clashes.html Strange, H. and Webster, A. (2013, August 29). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/10272785/Colombia-president-says-government-ready-for-peace-talks-with-ELN-rebels.html The World Factbook. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/co.html Tropenbos International. (2013, March 7). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from: http://www.tropen bos.org/news/gold+mining+activities+big+threat+for+local+communities+in+the+colombian+amazon Willis, A. and Smith, M. (2013, July 24). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-24/colombia-illegal-gold-mines-prosper-in-global-rout.html
It is my intention to investigate the relationship with Pablo Escobar and the development of Colombia as this is a very controversial and wide topic that covers many aspects regarding the economic growth of Columbia. The topic "changing communities" can be interpreted many ways for this topic, changing communities shall be measured in economic development, change in culture and geographic development. In this research paper I am going to discover Pablo Escobar's relationship with the development of Colombia as in the early stages of Escobar's reign over Columbia and the drug world he was coined the nickname "the robin hood of Colombia" for his millions of US dollars
Illegal drug trade in Colombia is the practice of producing and distributing narcotics domestically and around the world. As of 2012, Colombia was the world leading cocaine producer in the world (Neuman, 2012). Cocaine, marijuana and heroin along with other illegal drugs have become a big part of Colombians lifestyle and a major source of income for many people. Since the establishment of the War on Drugs in the late 20th century, European countries and United States have provided billions of dollars, logistics and military aid to the Colombia government to combat the illegal drug trade (Lilley, 2006). As of 1999, Plan Colombia has been one of the biggest movements towards Colombia’s biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The movement was implemented as Colombia supplies 80% of cocaine to American citizens (Vellinga, 2000). The US Drug Enforcement Administration estimated that Colombia’s annual profit ranges between $5-7 billion from drugs smuggled into the United States.
The cartels are now in control of most of the drug trades and are successful. The Mexican border gives them the power to go everywhere they desire, making them a relentless force. “To date operation Xcellrator has led the arrest of 755 individuals and the seizure of approximately 5 U.S. Currency more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 11,000 of methamphetamine, more than 8 kilograms of heroin, approximately 1.3 million pills of ecstasy”(Doj 2). Mexican cartels extend to central and southern America. Columbia is the supply of much of the cocaine exported to the U.S. Colombia is under control of South American gangs, they do business with the Mexican cartels to transport drugs the north. The Northern Mexican gangs hold the most control because the territory is very important (Wagner1). They are many different types of cartel in Mexico it also signifies that there are killing each other so their cartel can expand an...
Between 1984 & 1987, fifteen judges and numerous other governmental figures were assassinated in streets of Medellin. By 1993 credited with killing more than 200 judges, an attorney general, three presidential candidates, estimated 1000 police officers, dozens of journalists, and thirty kidnappings. Escobar's killing in December 1993 ended a long terror campaign that shook Colombia to its core. The drug lord's gang set off bombs, downed an airliner and killed dozens of police officers and officials to coerce the government to not extradite drug suspects to the United States.
...to introduce other factors, such as fear, corruption of minds, and obedience to authority that also have played a large role in the success of growing rebel movements in different conflict areas, such as Sierra Leone and Uganda, etc., that have not been mentioned by the two authors. Conflicts as well as rebel groups differ in their construct, and although in most of them common sense of deprivation plays a role, and in their enlargement economic and social factors play a crucial role, it should also be recognized that fear and other negative aspects are used by the rebels to strengthen their movement.
the world's leading coca producer. Twenty years ago almost no coca was grown in Colombia. Only
If you enjoy learning about everything that went on hundreds of years ago in all different places and how it made the present what it is or why people do what they do, I’m sure you will enjoy this essay about Colombia. Important periods in Colombia include ancient history, colonization, and independence. It’s truly fascinating, learning its history will be like listening to an exciting story.
Smith-Baranzini, Marlene, Richard J. Orsi, and James J. Rawls. A Golden State: Mining And Economic Development In Gold Rush California. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1999. eBook (EBSCOhost). Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
Tokatlian, Juan G., Bruce M. Bagley. Economía y Política del Narcotráfico.(Economy and Politics of the Drug Trade) Bogotá, Colombia: C.E.I. Uniandes, 1990.
...RC and the government of Colombia have reached an agreement on two out of three important topics on the agenda for the peace talks, but there is still a third point about narcotics traffic that has yet to be resolved, although public figures seem to be optimistic. The FARC has asked the U.S. to get involved in these peace talks stating that “these decisions are coming from Washington anyways, so we would like to talk with the U.S. personally” although the U.S. government declines knowledge of these peace talks and refuses to participate. Public opinion about the FARC peace talks has not changed much though, because these peace talks have been established before, to no avail. Even during these peace talks, both the government and the FARC have stated that their activities will continue and the government is still using military means to prevent FARC actions as well.
McDermott, Jeremy. “US Targets Colombian Rebels as War against Terrorism Escalates.” Scottsman.com. February 10, 2002.
Another commodity that Columbia is associated with is cocaine. During the 1980s, Columbia was in the midst of a major civil war between the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia—Ejército del Pueblo, (FARC) a leftist organization and the government . During the 1970s illegal entrepreneurs begun to trade small amounts of Cocaine with the United States and profits followed and the entire industry became self-financed, and more coca plants were sowed . Cocaine and coca became extremely profitable and the FARC used that to their advantage. The FARC was funded in their fight against their fight with the government with drug money caused by the raise in drug Columbian cocaine trade , in order to fund the revolution and provide for their families.
Colombia has been at war for over 50 years between the government and guerrilla groups. Guerrillas started as a group of rebels who were against the corrupted government. At the begging they were not much of threat because their political views were seen as exaggerated. Little by little insurgents started to gain power especially when they joined the drug cartels. On November 6, 1985, the impossible became possible. A small group of guerrillas attacked The Palace of Justice killing half of the Colombia´s Supreme Court judges. This marked the beginning of a new era in terrorism in Colombia. After this incident the country was not the same, people felt vulnerable and the government didn´t provide any security to their citizens. This touched my family too; insurgents took away our farm which was our only way of income. The farm was a very especial place for us not only
With the war on drugs still a big issue on the front, its paramilitary groups still trying to get a foot in its government, and its enormous gap between social classes, Colombia still has a long way to go before it becomes a stable country. Although with its struggle within its people still main their rich heritage and rich culture, and hope that one they can be known as a world power.
Large transnational corporations, such as Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole, ship them around the world; the ones mentioned are based in America. The bananas they ship are largely produced in Latin America, namely Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Columbia; however, they all export to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Lasker notes that bananas come from questionable workspaces, as these businesses often violate human rights. Chiquita's workers, for example, were violently repressed from forming unions by paying the United Self-Defence Forces of Columbia (AUC), a right-wing paramilitary group in Columbia, to intensify violence against union leaders. Lasker mentions that the AUC has also been linked to rich landowners, petroleum companies and the Colombian military. Chiquita admitted to the bribing, claiming that they were paying the AUC to protect the workers. Hundreds of civilians were killed, in addition to the union leaders. Only a 'master' with a complete disregard for human 'slave' lives would regard protection to be akin to massacre. The US State Department, after 9/11, designated the AUC as a terrorist group. According to American law, if one were to offer a terrorist group any material assistance, they would be sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Yet when Chiquita supplied the AUC with 3400 assault rifles, the behemoth got away with a fine. Independent researchers have exposed an inglorious past showing Chiquita’s intimidation and violence against union leaders is not a well-kept secret. According to Lasker, the pattern of repression goes back to the 1920s. Columbia now has a free trade agreement with the United States, which has lessened their notoriously high assassination rate of union leaders. Many international companies and organizations continue to advocate for worker's rights; however, some have a "track record of failing to uphold