Bogota, Colombia

In response to the violent drug wars that have raged on throughout Colombia for years and years and have also become so standard within the country that its citizens have become numb to the wars’ effects, an initiative named Plan Colombia was proposed (and later legislated) by Colombian President Andres Pastrana in 1990 during a speech given in Bogota. The name Plan Colombia also refers to US legislation put into effect to try to repress efforts of drug smuggling and help solve the violence that continues to plague Colombia. The US considers its Plan Colombia as part of the on going “war on drugs” to reduce illegal drug trade.

President Pastrana outlined several goals within his administration’s plan, including social and economic regeneration, weaning Colombia’s economy off of its dependence on drug trade, putting a stop to armed conflicts related to illegal drug trade, and constructing an anti-drug strategy. Some controversial components of this plan are the aerial administration of herbicides (because of damage done to legal crops) and the manner in which Colombian security forces were trained. This initiative has received much aid and support from the US, a reflection upon how much the Colombian illegal drug trade and resulting violence has impacted the US.

Movement is indeed an important theme to consider in Colombia’s struggle to quell the violent drug trade not only within its borders, but internationally as well. Colombian cartels have expanded business all over the world, notably so in the US, and taken with them ideas, people, culture, violence, influence, and product. The best way it seems to stop this movement is to stop it at the source: Colombia.

Picture: President Pastrana giving speech in Bogota