Colombia

Index

Colombia Main Page
La Violencia Claims Thousands of Lives
Rise of Rebel Groups M-19, ELN, FARC, and UAC
Joint Antinarcotics Effort with the United States, Plan Colombia, Begins
President Uribe Makes Strides in the Face of Significant Domestic Challenges
Venezuelan President Chavez Achieves Some Success in Releasing FARC-held Hostages
Political Veteran Assumes the Presidency
FARC Halts Kidnapping and Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. Begins

Joint Antinarcotics Effort with the United States, Plan Colombia, Begins

In Aug. 2000, the U.S. government approved “Plan Colombia,” pledging $1.3 billion to fight drug trafficking. Pastrana used the plan to undercut drug production and prevent guerrilla groups from benefiting from drug sales. In Aug. 2001, Pastrana signed “war legislation,” which expanded the rights of the military in dealing with rebels.

Alvaro Uribe of the Liberal Party easily won the presidential election in May 2002. He took office in August, pledging to get tough on the rebels and drug traffickers by increasing military spending and seeking U.S. military cooperation. An upsurge in violence accompanied his inauguration, and Uribe declared a state of emergency within a week. In his first year, Uribe beefed up Colombia's security forces with the help of U.S. special forces, launched an aggressive campaign against the drug trade, and passed several economic reform bills.