Colombia faces many obstacles in its war against drugs, but none that it cannot overcome with international aid, Colombian Ambassador to the United States Luis Alberto Moreno told a nearly packed Jacob Sleeper Auditorium last night.
Moreno’s lecture, entitled ‘International Terrorism: The War on Drugs,’ was part of the Boston University World Affairs Forum series, which aims to raise awareness about contemporary global issues. The lecture focused on drug-related problems Colombia faces today and the corrective steps Moreno said are being taken.
Despite progress made so far, Moreno maintained that Colombia still needs strong international support in attacking its drug trade problems. People all over the world consume drugs, he said, and trafficking is a global problem the world as a whole needs to address.
The United States is the world’s largest consumer of illegal drugs, Moreno said, and he stressed United States cooperation as especially vital in the war against drugs, and it begins in peoples’ homes.
‘The war begins with parents speaking to children,’ Moreno stressed.
United States resources also help greatly in Colombia’s efforts, Moreno said. He described how a small U.S. military presence in the country helps train Colombian military forces in order to improve its capability to handle the FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and similar rebel groups.
Drug trade is hurting Colombia’s future, and other countries have an interest in arresting its effects.
‘The drug trade is a threat to the development of Colombia,’ said Moreno, who has worked over the years to secure more than $2 billion in American aid to fight the problem.
Moreno painted a picture of Colombia as one of the oldest and most stable democracies in Latin America. Contrary to widespread beliefs, the country has a robust political system and flourishing culture, he said.
Colombia remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries, but Moreno said its health is now threatened by drug production.
Moreno said Colombia has two faces: one of extraordinary natural beauty and resources and one of a landscape with a history of violence. Geographically isolated regions of the country became ‘breeding ground’ for leftist guerrilla rebel groups such as the FARC, he said.
Such groups are funded by money from an illegal drug trade that Moreno blamed for compromising the democracy and economy of Colombia.
Since the 1970’s, Moreno said, young people in Colombia have been attracted to the business as a way to get easy money. Still, he maintained, the country’s citizens will not give up the struggle against the drug trade.
‘The people are resilient,’ he said. ‘Colombia weeps, but does not surrender.’
Moreno discussed past action taken against the FARC. Four years ago, Moreno said former president Andres Pastrana granted the group a de-militarized zone, which they then used to produce drugs.
‘War and organized crime breed when the state is weak,’ Moreno said. ‘Law and order are necessary conditions for democracy to develop.’
Current president Alvaro Uribe, during his first eight months in office, has instated policies to guarantee basic rights to all Colombian citizens. These policies include actions taken to eliminate the drug trade as a source of Colombian terrorist funds, Moreno said.
Already, vast areas of land formerly used to grow the coca plant have been cleared of their illegal crop. Arial chemical spraying has been the main method used, Moreno said. There has also been a 30 percent reduction of cocaine produced in Colombia.
The Colombian government itself, however, still must keep waging war on the coca trade, and they also must teach the people involved in these illegal activities to live independently of the business.
‘[The government] must provide alternative economic options for citizens,’ he said. ‘Nothing can replace the profitability of drugs, but people can go back to what they were doing before.’
Once the cocaine business is eliminated, he said, there will be huge positive changes in communities all over the country. This will, however, take time.
Moreno told the audience to keep the Colombian crisis in mind along with the other news stories of today.
‘With the world’s attention turned to the Middle East, we must maintain our focus,’ he emphasized.
Students said they found the lecture very helpful and enlightening. Ashley Sarver, a College of Communication sophomore, admitted she learned some new things.
‘Ambassador Moreno said there were common misunderstandings about Colombia … I was not aware it was actually a very stable democracy,’ she said. ‘Mainly the context which we hear about is violent.’
‘The lecture was very interesting,’ said Meredith Farrelly, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. ‘It was sad a solution is not in plain sight.’
Gabriel Mulero, a CAS sophomore, said she was hopeful, though.
‘Considering the resources and time, this recent effort especially has been very productive and effective in the war against ‘narco-terrorism,” Mulero said. ‘All successes must be measured in their own context. [This is] over all, very positive.’