COLOMBIA: Judicial Warfare

Tim Brown leaves no doubt as to where he stands:

"WAISers are invited to look at the recent Wall Street Journal article by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, the Journal's America's Column editor, entitled "The U.S. Dabbles in Colombia's Civil War, On the Wrong Side", bylined Bogota, on how human rights organizations there are still engaged in precisely the same activities they engaged in earlier in El Salvador and Nicaragua, which she labels "judicial warfare", in support of armed Marxist guerrilla movements via manipulation of U.S. and other public opinion. In her article O'Grady details just how this is working today in Colombia, making our discussion not just an historical debate but also a discussion of current political events. Those whose chose to do so can, of course, always dismiss out of hand such analyses. But O'Grady is a serious observer with extensive experience, whose comments merit careful consideration".

My comment: WAISers should give careful consideration to all sides. In wars, civil and others, the issue of human rights is often raised to paralyze a government. However, it is in the army's own interest to observe them as far as possible. Skeletons of army victims have been dug up, especially in Chile, doing the reputation of the army immense damage. O'Grady's article should be viewed in the context of the Wall Street Journal's general attitude in these matters. For a balanced view, I again recommend the World Press Review, which reproduces in translation articles by responsible journalists of different political orientation from various countries.

My concern is that the Colombian civil war will spread, Peasant uprisings by the Brazilian landless "sem terra" have only a tenuous link with the drug traffic. A recent report said that Brazil has the worst distribution of land in the world (!), and there are few signs that the situation is being remedied. If serious trouble breaks out in Brazil, Colombia will look like a sideshow.

Ronald Hilton - 6/14/01