Today a coalition of human rights, social justice, civil society organizations and TransAfrica Forum published two letters in which they criticize the government of outgoing Colombian President Álvaro Uribe for continuing a pattern of falsely accusing Venezuela of having links to the insurgent groups FARC and ELN.
These letters coincide with an extraordinary session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), requested by Colombia, to present alleged “evidence” on the presence of Colombian insurgent groups in Venezuela. According to the letter, the accusations threaten the opportunity for rapprochement between Venezuela and Colombia, especially as President-elect Juan Manuel Santos prepares to take office on August 7.
In the letter by the coalition, which was addressed to the Secretary General of the OAS , José Miguel Insulza, and copied to the representative of its member-states, the organizations wrote: “In recent days, President Uribe has once again chosen to provoke a neighbor – in this case Venezuela– rather than engage in much needed dialogue. With his government’s decision to dust off oft-repeated accusations against the Chavez government at a crucial moment of transition that offers a unique opportunity for putting relations with Venezuela on a new path, Uribe has once again demonstrated that prefers conflict to dialogue.”
Officials in Uribe’s administration made the new round of accusations on July 15, just as President-elect Santos had indicated his desire to normalize relations with Venezuela. The accusations followed similar claims made in recent years of Venezuelan alleged support for the FARC and ELN, none of which have ever been substantiated or subjected to international verification.
The organizations also criticized President Uribe for two foreign policy initiatives that provoked regional tensions. “His government’s decision in 2008 to invade and bomb Ecuadorean territory without any regard for that country’s sovereignty led to a regional crisis that continues to have repercussions to this day. His decision in 2009 to sign an agreement with the United States that greatly enhances the U.S.’ military presence in Colombia, has led to further tensions with countries throughout South America that are historically wary of any form of US military build up in the region,” stated the letter by the coalition.
The letter of the coalition concluded by asking President-elect Santos to engage with Venezuela and the region. “It is our hope, both for Colombia and for the future stability of the region, that once in office Mr. Santos will seek to significantly revise the harmful security policies put in place by President Uribe and work in earnest to rebuild relations with the rest of the region.”
The coalition announced that they will continue collecting signatures and they will submit the letter to UNASUR and President-elect Santos on August 7, the day of his inauguration.
Read here the letter by the Coalition.
Read here the letter by TransAfrica Forum.
Press and Communications Office of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the U.S. / July 22, 2010
