Press release by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), January 15, 2002

Press release by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), January 15, 2002

Schakowsky Warns Administration Against Shifting U.S. Policy that Would Escalate Civil War in Colombia and Destroy Peace Process

"I am troubled by the fact that your Administration has lent virtually no assistance to the peace negotiations in Colombia but seems eager to send more weapons of war"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today expressed strong opposition to a policy shift under consideration by the Bush Administration that could result in rapid escalation of the civil war in Colombia and the death of many more innocent victims. Officials in the Bush Administration have indicated that there may be an increase of U.S. military and counter-insurgency assistance to Colombia in the upcoming months.

Schakowsky said that this news is troubling since the Colombian government and the FARC have agreed to restart peace negotiations, and said that she plans to call for hearings on this policy in the National Security Subcommittee, on which she serves.

In a letter to President Bush, Schakowsky wrote, "Under the cloak of counter-narcotics assistance, we have provided military aid to Colombia's military, which has one of the worst human rights records in the world. I strongly object to a policy shift that would allow for the United States to get even more involved in Colombia's civil war. Opponents of Plan Colombia have warned of the lines between counter-narcotics and counter-insurgency being blurred. The shift you are reportedly considering would erase those lines entirely."

Schakowsky added that the Administration has lent "virtually no assistance to the peace negotiations in Colombia but seems eager to send more weapons of war to that country." She urged the Administration to work to advance the peace process, instead of "escalating a civil war and providing aid to a military still rife with corruption."

Schakowsky, who traveled to Colombia last year and met with President Pastrana, military officials, human rights experts and others, will continue to seek support for her legislation, the Andean Region Contractor Accountability Act, H.R. 1591, to prohibit the federal government from funding private armies in the Andean region. Schakowsky is a member of the Government Reform Subcommittees on National Security and Criminal Justice and Drug Policy.

For a copy of the letter to President Bush, please contact the press office or go to www.house.gov/schakowsky.