Colombia's Uribe Is a Man of Action; Under President Alvaro Uribe's leadership, the drug production is down dramatically, warring guerrilla factions are in retreat and the economy is recovering

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Oct 14, 2003 | by Ricardo Galarza

Byline: Ricardo Galarza, SPECIAL TO INSIGHT

Alvaro Uribe, president of the Republic of Colombia, inherited a country in disarray when he came to office in 2002. Violence was on the rise. Three illegal, armed groups two of them leftist guerrilla organizations and one a right-wing paramilitary were growing at an unprecedented rate, feeding on trafficking in drugs and contributing to the overall chaos.

At the time, "Plan Colombia" the U.S.-sponsored initiative to fight drugs in the South American nation seemed to be going nowhere and perhaps doomed to failure. President Andres Pastrana, Uribe's predecessor, was trying to reach a peace agreement with the guerrillas (which never materialized), and he limited the U.S. aerial spraying of coca fields. At that pace it seemed an impossible task, and Colombians were fed up with violence.

Uribe was elected to put an end to all that, and most Colombians believe he has delivered. This Colombian president has overseen a widespread fumigation of the narcotics fields and has expanded "Plan Colombia" to include combatting insurgency. Among the results is a 2002 decrease in drug production by 30 percent, according to U.N. figures, and a 32 percent reduction in the first seven months of this year. Guerrillas are on the run, paramilitary factions are willing to negotiate peace and the economy is on the upturn.

Most important, Uribe has restored hope to Colombians across the country after decades of disappointment and frustration with their leaders. A pragmatist who puts in famously long hours, he enjoys approval ratings of 70 percent and is the most popular Colombian president in more than three decades.

There are problems, of course. Human-rights groups think his government should do more to defend the civil liberties of Colombian citizens. Others want him to do more to reduce the fiscal deficit and the country's rising unemployment.

As for "Plan Colombia," the hardest task is ahead, and Uribe wants a second phase to follow the program now under way, certainly by the end of fiscal year 2005. "We have the snake almost defeated," he tells Insight. "We need the second phase to finish up the snake for good."

Insight: The United States has invested $2.5 billion in "Plan Colombia." Should it be satisfied with the results?

President Alvaro Uribe: With "Plan Colombia" we went from the rhetorical path against drugs to the practical path. Colombia has reduced its drug production significantly and the results are undisputed.

So I would like to send a message to the American people and to the U.S. Congress. In light of the fact that we are on the right track and that we can win the war against drugs, "Plan Colombia" must continue on its way. Let us not commit the mistake of leaving this path halfway to the goal.

Q: What would be the price tag on the second phase which you envision?

A: Teams of experts are evaluating that now. I don't think it's up to me, but this great effort cannot be left orphan. We need the second phase to make certain it is a success.

Look, we have the snake almost defeated. If we let go now and allow it time to breathe, the snake not only will survive but will grow again.

Q: Some members of the U.S. Congress and human-rights groups already have voiced their opposition to phase one. How will they receive this new proposal for a second phase?

A: They can be assured that we are making great efforts in terms of human rights. Our concept of security is a democratic one. We are going out of our way to protect both peasants and trade unionists. Our press has absolutely all the freedoms.

I have personally assumed responsibility for making sure that the police protect members of the opposition in an effective way. Our law enforcement becomes more professional every day. It is not politicized; it does not work along party lines. There is a fundamental commitment and that commitment is to protect and defend our democracy.

Q: You have considerably more support on Capitol Hill among Republicans than among Democrats. Do you have preferences when it comes to U.S. elections?

A: Of course, I cannot express an opinion on the domestic politics of another country. I have to be prudent and I'm obliged to view U.S. policy toward Colombia as bipartisan. We receive and accept it as such. That is why I make my appeal for help to all the people of the United States and to the entire Congress.

The people of Colombia, like the American people, value their liberties very much. And you can be sure that when we in Colombia make the kind of all-out effort we are making to defeat drugs and terrorism, it is because we consider those to be the main threats to our liberties.

Q: Drug production has been significantly reduced in Colombia since you took office, but when will the effects of that reduction be felt on U.S. streets?

A: We are relaunching the aerial interdiction program and have been working all year preparing for that. The aircraft are ready in Colombia and the crews trained.

On his recent visit, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld brought President [George W.] Bush's encouragement to proceed, and I think that's going to help us to take control of drug trafficking one step further.