Dear Senator/Representative________________,

I am writing to you as a constituent concerned about US policy toward Colombia. While I am sure you are overwhelmed with issues surrounding the Middle East, I would like to call your attention to some of the negative impacts of our current policy, and ask that you support any amendment to the 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that cuts or limits US military assistance for Colombia. I also urge you to support more effective methods of addressing drug abuse and related violence, including treatment and prevention programs at home and alternative crop assistance for farmers who grow drug crops abroad.

For years now, we have been pouring money and military know-how into a losing war on drugs-over $2 billion since 2000, with another huge package on the way. While supporting a military whose hands are soiled from a long history of human rights abuses, we have seen drug production move back to Peru and other Andean countries. Meanwhile, we have seen no decline in drug consumption at home.

In addition, the U.S. coca fumigation program in Colombia has failed at its goal of slowing drug production in the Andes. And it has another terrible impact: as fumigation rapidly expands and alternative development budgets dwindle, Colombia's rural population is left with hunger and displacement, thus bolstering mistrust in the governments of both Colombia and the United States. Such an undesirable outcome simply affords another opportunity for the brutal armed groups to take advantage of the rural desperation and recruit new members.

Our country now intends to follow such a disastrous waste of taxpayer funds with another military adventure into a 40 year-old civil war whose outcome is far from certain. Senator/Rep. _____________, I must tell you that I cannot see an end to this military involvement. Our lack of support for effective negotiations between the Colombian government and the insurgents has put us on the side of force over reason. And our staunch support of the Uribe government has put us on the side of authoritarian government over and against respect for basic human rights.

I ask you to support any amendments on upcoming appropriations bills that would cut military aid to Colombia. I urge you also to support social aid for refugees and small farmers in Colombia. In addition, I ask you to uphold efforts to protect threatened human rights workers and trade union leaders, who have been targets of brutal violence by all sides. Finally, please get behind any effort to increase funding for drug treatment and prevention programs in the United States. Until our demand for drugs is honestly addressed, our supply-side efforts in Colombia will be futile.

Thank you very much for your attention to the issue of Colombia. I look forward to hearing how you will vote on this issue, and about your plans to investigate the concerns that I have mentioned.

Sincerely yours,

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