Colombia

     Killings and wanton destruction continue to ravage Colombia. A mob of youngsters, some with ski masks, invaded the palace of the papal nuncio, making incoherent demands. The mixed FARC-government group returned from its three-week tour of Europe, and simply added to the continuing talk-fest which has done little to solve Colombia's problems.
     Meanwhile the people found refuge in a dream world. There was an uproar because the governor of Guajira department has not done enough to promote Miss Guajira in the beauty contest taking place in Cartagena. The girls, mostly white, strutted on the stage in the usual way. TV news devoted almost half of its time to sports, mostly soccer.
     It is a universal rule that, after a period of rioting and chaos, people long for order. This is an invitation to the military, and there is a growing feeling that the Colombian army may take a more active part in establishing order.
     The recent posting on Colombia's relations with Brazil presented only one possible scenario. It will not necessarily involve Brazilian military action, which is indeed unlikely. It all depends on what happens to the large area of Colombia virtually controlled by the FARC, stretching from the Brazilian border almost to the Pacific.

Ronald Hilton - 3/3/00