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Opinion: Colombia and the US                 by Americas Global Foundation's President

Colombia & USA Aid             Lucha por Colombia o tu Pais -Nuestro Mundo

Colombia and the US -Wasting Substantial Resources & Proposal           
by Victor Pinzon

Washington, DC, January 26, 2000
    Colombia will continue to be a roller coaster in its economic, social and political development unless! Unless, fundamental institutional government structural changes take place.
The problems of illegal drugs and guerrilla activities are only two of the major problems. But, perhaps Colombia’s most challenging problem is its weak democracy, characterized by ineffective governmental institutions. It is a fact that all of the current conditions create substantial waste of resources, where everybody loses.
    Democracy is weak in Colombia. The Pastrana administration, just like most presidential administrations in the past Colombian history, is no a working democracy. Pastrana’s administration appears to be closed to the people, it does not offer equal opportunities, nor equal access, nor equal participation.
    Democracy provides for participation, involvement, equal opportunities, equal access, best representation, best government administration, etc. of its people. However, it is up to the people to become vigilant, active, involved, participative, contributors, overseers, and to elect their best representatives or get rid off through elections or other speedy judicious procedures those ineffective public servants-bad apples. The three Colombian government branches: executive, legislative and judicial must be fully restructured. They must be modernized, be transparent, open to all, provide equal opportunities and equal access to all, be responsible and responsive, accountable, cost effective, structured to offer customer friendly service to its people, and run more like a successful major business enterprise. With the great changes in technology we are living today, along with the high level of frustration and apparent lost hope of many, I believe it is now possible to accomplish this dream. What it takes is action, concerted and focused action, starting immediately implementing a well analyzed, flexible, realistic strategic plan, allocating and raising the corresponding resources to make it happen for the benefit of all!
    Colombia’s problems will not be solved just from a military or a national police frame. They are indeed major needed components. But, just as important, and perhaps more important, I believe, is restructuring the government institutions and operations, in tandem with the development and build up of a solid grass root democracy, empowering its people from the bottom-up, and top to bottom.
    To avoid that our US financial aid to the Pastrana administration be another component of the long list of wasted aid in Colombia, president Clinton’s Administration and the US Congress should demand the best performance by all parties, within a frame of honesty, transparency, professionalism, and accountability!
    President Clinton and Congress, as a condition to the proposed financial aid, should clearly demand and impose on the Pastrana Administration the commitment that he will effectively implement a strategic plan to restructure its government into an effective, working democracy, involving all Colombian sectors, including experienced, motivated, professional, even Colombians living abroad -in the United States. The commitment must carry a time table to track progress of the program, and include an independent but concerned and highly sensitive entity to oversee the implementation of the program.
    We further suggest that the Clinton Administration and the US Congress, within the proposed aid package to Colombia, allocate specific funds or resources for the independent overseeing of the program, and to appoint an overseer, auditing entity. Such entity ought to be a US based nonprofit, NGO, truly independent, but highly motivated to assist the process. An NGO experienced, highly knowledgeable of the Colombian sensitiveness and idiosyncrasies of the vast and complex characteristics of the numerous players and gigantic task. Said entity must be open to all, willing to invite and engage all components of the Colombian community to establish effective working strategic partnerships everywhere.

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The author challenges you to send us your comments and suggestions on this or other issues. You should communicate your opinion on the matter to the White House, US Congress, State Department and Presidente Pastrana. Also, invites you to become a paid member of   or donate -tax deductible- to The Americas Foundation to contribute to help us help you and others in our Foundation's ambitious mission to contribute to the educational, economic and political empowerment of our people.

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