Paying people to torture people.

[Toucano]

Group: Colombian Gov’t, Paramilitaries Responsible for Vast Majority of Abuses

In Colombia, an independent commission has presented its findings to a UN inquiry on human rights abuses on Colombian soil. The Colombian Human Rights Coalition studied torture, murders and other political crimes dating from 2003 to 2008. Inquiry head Ana Maria Diaz said the vast majority of abuses were carried out by government or paramilitary forces.

Ana Maria Diaz: “Torture in the country is being presented in a systematic and generalized way. According to the records we have from 2003 to 2008, 93 percent of the torture is perpetrated directly by the government or by agents of the state or by the paramilitary. About seven percent of the torture acts in Colombia are perpetrated by guerrilla groups.”

Colombia is the largest recipient of US military aid in the Western Hemisphere.


http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/13/headlines

[Sinti]

1. It's one of the remaining strongholds

for harsh authoritarian weapons merchant puppet shows.

I bet if the people of Colombia could cast a true vote, given good information about their potential leaders, they would likely choose to have someone who is a bit more of a liberal/socialist than authoritarian. Someone who views their lives as sacred, and their resources as belonging to them (rather than United Fruit, etc). I'm sure they'd at least prefer someone who would reject the blood money from the weapons merchants (which is usually a transfer of US dollars - directly and indirectly).

With all these death merchants have done in Latin America alone, don't you think they should stand trial? If for no other reason than to allow most of the deaf world to hear the stories, and see the physical and emotional scars left on human beings that I have - and I'm an American.

[Toucano]

2. As long as they continue to receive foreign aid from the U.S., I don't think things will change.

Gotta fight that "drug war" dontcha know?

The people don't get a true voice when those in power are armed to the teeth with greenbacks.