The new Supplemental Appropriations aid bill for Iraq, going to the Senate and House this week, will add military aid to Colombia, among 18 other countries. On March 25th, the President requested an extra $104 million to be included in the bill for military/police aid in Colombia, to fight narcotics trafficking and terrorist activities, and improve security for certain vital assets. Colombia has received over $500 million from the U.S. so far in 2003. In addition, the president has already requested over $700 million for Colombia in 2004. Critics note that the increase in funding would come despite State Department and United Nations reports that Colombia has made no progress on curbing human rights abuses by the military and paramilitaries. Out of the proposed $104 million, an estimated $36-37 million will go to the Foreign Military Financing program, which is currently providing aid to the Colombian military to defend the Cao Limon oil pipeline of northeast Colombia, a project that is endangering the indigenous U’wa community.
