Justice Department blocked efforts to sign Colombia peace in US: Report

[Judi Lynn]

Justice Department blocked efforts to sign Colombia peace in US: Report

written by Adriaan Alsema
September 4, 2016

Colombia President Santos and FARC leader “Timochenko” were going to sign peace at the UN General Summit in New York until the US Department of Justice (DOJ) hit the brakes, Foreign Policy reported on Sunday.

. . .

According to FP, the idea to invite a FARC delegation to the UN was promoted by Colombia’s Foreign Minister and peace negotiator, Maria Angela Holguin, and supported by both the White House and the State Department.

Inviting alleged drug traffickers to the US

The DOJ, however, protested after years of trying to get FARC leaders to respond to charged of drug trafficking and the kidnapping of three military contractors, reported FP.

. . .

So instead, the ceremony will be held in the much more picturesque, but much less prestigious Cartagena, reportedly much to the disappointment of the Colombian government, the White House and the State Department who have all made efforts to secure the deal.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/justice-department-blocked-efforts-sign-colombia-peace-us-report/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Netherlands eye Colombia peace deal over Dutch guerrilla’s future

Netherlands eye Colombia peace deal over Dutch guerrilla’s future

written by AFP September 2, 2016

The Netherlands said Friday it was closely watching the outcome of the Colombian peace deal and how it will affect a notorious Dutch woman guerrilla, wanted by the United States.

An international arrest warrant for Tanja Nijmeijer, who joined the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia (FARC) rebel group in 2002, also remains in place, Dutch officials confirmed.

. . .

Nijmeijer, 38, was born in the eastern Dutch town of Denekamp and joined the FARC in 2002 – reportedly shocked by the disparities between rich and poor – after travelling to Colombia to teach English.

. . .

The United States has charged her with terrorism and conspiracy to commit hostage taking in the kidnapping of three American contractors in 2003. The men were freed in a military operation along with former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen Ingrid Betancourt.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/netherlands-eye-colombia-peace-deal-dutch-guerrillas-future/

[forest444]

2. It's possible that the long-awaited peace treaty may "fall apart" next year.

Especially if Trump takes office (God forbid). Either way, there seems to be very little interest in it among U.S. neocons - and certainly among Colombian right-wing interests. There were just too many people making too much money out of it, and the temptation to sabotage it may be just too great.

Happy Labor Day, Judi! DU is very fortunate to have you keeping up with all the intrigue south of the border. No easy task, certainly.

[Judi Lynn]

3. That would be unbearable to so many, many people without friends in high places.

You're so right about the Colombian and US oligarchs preferring to keep this ear running at least 5 more decades. There is so much money changing hands through this bloody operation. They are making out like bandits.

Former President, and Bush ally, Alvaro Uribe, has been fighting this peace initiative from the first moment anyone mentioned it after he left office.

The US has poured over 10 billion US taxdollars into Colombia since 2000, with the beginning of Plan Colombia. It did NOT go to alleviate any suffering among the people of the country, so many have been tortured, murdered, even cremated, or buried in mass graves, one mass grave near an air base even poisoned the water supply of a town named "Macarena," and local people became ill.
It has been hideous, from the first day of this struggle.

Yet the former Harvard and Oxford-educated President wants to keep that war going. He has powerful friends in the US, too, unfortunately.

Hadn't considered what you mentioned, but it certainly looks so possible. The good people involved in this need every bit of help they can get. The criminals in Colombia and the US war machine can always find new ways to make fast, easy money elsewhere, but non-war pursuits probably are a lot harder, longer, and more visible.

Happy Labor Day to you, forest444! It's great to see fall approaching this year, after such a ridiculous summer!