| 摘要 | Colombia is more than an ally of the United States, it is a good friend. I have known and worked with many of its leaders to meet our shared responsibilities, including in the drafting of Plan Colombia 20 years ago, and I offer these observations as a respectful friend.
Colombia is facing extraordinary challenges today, and patriots across the political spectrum should join together to find solutions that build stronger institutions, a more secure country, and a more united, inclusive, and just nation.
The true enemies of Colombia’s well-being—those who project crime and violence from abroad and those who conspire with these criminals in a treacherous bid for power—are the only parties who benefit when genuine democrats of good will exploit issues to polarize the country. Colombians should be cooperating constructively as the government deals with extraordinary challenges exacerbated by the hostile regime next door, including reintegration of post-conflict territories while caring for 1.3 million refugees.
Despite sincere doubts about the peace process, it is a fact that the formal end of a 60-year-old conflict is a tangible achievement, producing a positive “peace dividend” for millions of Colombians. Rigorous implementation now is required to secure those benefits.
The peace accords are now the law of the land, and in the long run Colombia will progress only if the rule of law and the jurists empowered to interpret the law are respected. However, it is fair to say that the men who led the irregular forces that attacked the Colombian people for decades do not deserve the benefit of the doubt. And, those who the evidence shows remain involved in serious crimes should forfeit rights and privileges that are reserved for those committed to peace. Let bona fide justice be done.
Colombian democrats of the left, right, and center cannot afford to treat one another like enemies in a country that has genuine enemies. Committed democrats can either unite in the search for common ground or put Colombia at the mercy of cynical men trying to cheat the peace process or conspiring with criminals in Venezuela to wage war.
Mindful of sincere differences over the peace accords, the plans for extending security, infrastructure, and social services to areas of past conflict are vital and valuable. President Iván Duque’s development vision is bold and innovative. These initiatives are concrete plans that other countries would envy. And their full implementation are essential for building a more competitive, stable, and prosperous country.
Just as Colombia made itself a model for the world for extending security to marginalized communities under President Álvaro Uribe, it can now make itself a model for extending economic opportunity and human services to citizens in every corner of the country. Yes, all these challenges are difficult, but no country in the world has Colombia’s expertise in the reintegration of combatants and reconciliation of communities.
Funding such programs is a sound investment in a more secure and just Colombia. Foreign friends and multilateral development banks must do everything possible to find the billions of pesos needed to support a decade of development. Building sound budgets is the responsibility of every political party, not just of the government. Fiscal discipline, efficient management, effective tax collection, and a broader tax base will attract capital and boost economic growth.
Colombia still enjoys strong bipartisan support in the United States. We trust President Duque to enforce the rule of law and reduce the cocaine production, because he knows that doing so is essential to denying unlimited resources to dangerous criminal groups.
As Colombia is dealing with its own challenges, the source of many of these threats is the narcoregime in Venezuela. That regime is managed by Cuba, armed by Russia, financed by China, and abetted by Iran, Hezbollah, and narcoguerrillas. The United States must lead in neutralizing that regime, because its friends in Colombia, Central America, and Mexico cannot thrive with that criminal cancer nearby. In the meantime, US and Colombian diplomats should ask the legitimate National Assembly to release some of the frozen assets belonging to the republic to international programs aiding Venezuelan refugees.
Colombia’s friends hope its leaders find practical solutions that serve the long-term welfare of the people and not the short-term interests of politicians. Decent patriots know that Colombia’s future depends on forming a united, nonpartisan front against dangerous enemies as they build a more just, inclusive, and prosperous nation. |
