Vol. 524 No. 3
9 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to highlight the case of a person (details supplied), an Irish priest working in Colombia, following the massacre which occurred in La Union on 8 July 2000; if this matter has been brought to the attention of the US Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19281/00]
29 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that significant safety measures have been put in place for a per son (details supplied) in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22362/00]
38 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's attitude to Plan Colombia both at home and at European Union level; the information he has received on the monitoring by EU embassies on the Colombian Government's investigation into the massacre in La Union; and the support for increasing the financial grant for the UN human rights office in Colombia. [22333/00]
52 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's attitude to the US Government's Operation Colombia; and if he will oppose this ill-conceived operation. [19977/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 29, 38 and 52 together.
I raised the situation of Fr. Forde and the peace community at La Union with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Dr. De Soto. My Department was also in contact with EU resident embassies in Bogotá and with the US State Department. Prior to President Clinton's recent visit to Colombia, the Taoiseach sent him a message setting out our concern about La Union. At the Millennium Summit in New York, the Taoiseach met President Pastrana of Colombia and, against the background of hopes for the peace process, expressed our concern that everything possible should be done to ensure the safety of Fr. Forde and the people of La Union. Subsequently, our ambassador, based in Mexico City, visited Bogotá to present credentials on a secondary basis there. President Pastrana confirmed to him that an investigation into the 8 July killings is well under way. The investigating commission was set up following consultation between the Colombian Vice President, who has special responsibility for human rights, and representatives of the peace community, with the participation of the Intercongregational Commission for Justice and Peace. Investigators from the offices of the Attorney General and State Prosecutor visited the area. The Bogotá office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was also involved.
During his visit to Bogotá, our ambassador was informed that additional security measures requested by the community at La Union are also in hand. These include road repairs, better lighting and radio links. My Department will continue to monitor the situation at La Union as well as the progress of the investigation against the background of the efforts being made to advance the peace process in Colombia.
By bearing witness to the atrocity committed at La Union, Fr. Brendan Forde has helped to raise awareness of the terrible violence which has been afflicting that country for a very long time and which has further intensified during the past decade. In my initial statement following the events at La Union, I emphasised the necessity for all concerned to make a commitment to respect human rights and to engage in the peace process initiated by President Pastrana of Colombia.
Plan Colombia sets out the proposals of President Pastrana's Government to address on an integrated basis the enormous problems facing that country. The preface to the plan states: "We need to build a state for social justice which will protect all our citizens and uphold their right to life, dignity and property, freedom of belief, opinion and the press . . . we have to reduce the causes and provocations of violence by opening new paths to social participation". The plan encompasses: (1) the peace process; (2) new approaches to the economy; (3) counter-drugs strategy; (4) reform of the justice system and protection of human rights and (5) democratisation and social development.
It envisages overall expenditure of $7.5 billion, $4 billion of which is to be provided by the Colombian Government, with 75% of all money to be allocated to socio-economic, human rights and institution building programmes. President Pastrana has appealed for a total of $3.5 billion in assistance from the international community.
In July 2000, the US Congress approved $1 billion aid over two years in equipment, including 90 army helicopters, and training for the Colombian police and army to enhance their anti-drugs capability particularly crop destruction on industrial drug plantations. More than $300 million was provided for a range of social, economic and institutional reform programmes including voluntary alternative crop development for small farmers; environmental protection; assistance for displaced persons; protection for human rights workers; support for Colombian and international NGOs in documenting incidents and patterns of collusion between paramilitaries and State forces; support for the development of a national human rights strategy and the establishment of a network of human rights task forces; reform of the judicial system and criminal code and training of police and judges.
While the US programme, therefore, has two dimensions, EU support for the peace process, on the other hand, will be strictly confined to exclusively socio-economic and institutional reform measures. In discussions to prepare the EU position, Ireland has placed particular emphasis on full respect for human rights, meaningful consultation with civil society and the necessity to address the underlying causes of conflict. At the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 9 October, the EU reaffirmed its political support for the peace effort, offering active assistance in the negotiating process.
I welcome the representations made on behalf of the Minister and the Government in connection with Fr. Forde. Does the Minister agree Fr. Forde is probably one of the greatest Irish nationals in the world at the moment, given the work he is doing in Colombia? Does he agree with Commissioner Neilson, the EU Commissioner for human rights and development, who recently said to the Irish MEPs that the priest is in no danger and that everything in his area is calm, given that over the past week 11 people were summarily executed within five miles of where Fr. Forde works?
I join Deputy Hayes in commending the courage, commitment and dedication of Fr. Forde, who is working in very difficult circumstances. It would be very remiss of anyone to give unqualified or unconditional indications that all will be safe in any part of Colombia, given the huge amount of violence that permeates that society and the unpredictability of the situation. We have, through our diplomats and embassies and through contact with Senator Kennedy's office and others, tried to ensure the President of the United States was aware of the situation before he went and that he would raise it. We are doing our utmost to bring to the attention to the authorities the need to ensure the security of this fine man.
I appreciate the efforts made to secure Fr. Forde's safety. Is the Minister aware that the development subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs has decided to recommend to Government that it opposes Plan Colombia? The Minister described in his reply the initial purchase of helicopters. He could have gone on to describe the defoliation of whole areas and the movement of people. What it is proposed the European Union and Ireland assist, is subsequent to military expenditure. Our part of Plan Colombia is fixing up what is essentially a military endeavour to deal with a civil and political problem. Is the Minister aware the development subcommittee, which includes members from different parties, has said it opposes Plan Colombia and favours an alternative based on the indigenous needs and consultation with the communities on the ground? Why would the Minister not respond to that and oppose Plan Colombia at European Union level and seek to advance an alternative?
The European Union has reaffirmed its political support for this process on the basis that we are pursuing fund assistance aimed not at the drug strategy but rather at dealing with the need for democratisation for engaging with civil society.
Whole communities have been moved.
I am aware concern has been expressed about that aspect of the US financing package. I was not aware the development subcommittee had recommended that and—
It has.
If it communicates that to me directly, if it has not already done so, I will provide a considered reply.
The Minister described Fr. Forde as a fine and courageous man. However, Fr. Forde is implacably opposed to Plan Colombia. Why will the Minister not support him in his opposition?
The whole thrust of our support as members of the European Union has been in a specific area of activity, which is not duplicated or emphasised to the same degree by the US part of the package. I take on board what Fr. Forde has to say. We are doing everything possible to ensure the authorities are aware of the Government's concern for his safety and that there will be a proper investigation of the massacre he witnessed.
Does that not show we do not have an independent foreign policy? The Minister is just a lackey of US foreign policy.
What is the Minister's view of the $1.3 billion military aid package with which the US Government hopes to assist the Colombian Government? Given that most of this military aid is going to state sponsored paramilitary organisations on the ground, the majority of which have murdered many of the communities Fr. Forde is representing as a priest, has the Minister a view on the military aid package which the US Government has given to Colombia? How is that view being transmitted to the EU?
The point I have been making is that at the international conference in Madrid on 7 July, the European Union Presidency made clear the European Union position, which we support. The European Union believes the Government of Colombia must continue to put in place and reinforce efforts in favour of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is also essential that those paramilitary groups and guerrilla organisations, FARC and ELN, which continue to commit massive human rights abuses, especially kidnapping and extortion, which violate international humanitarian conventions must accept these values and, consequently, cease their criminal activities. The Colombian Government must reinforce those efforts and measures already in place to end the criminal activities of the paramilitaries. It is especially important to the European Union that the Colombian Government brings to an end the impunity enjoyed at present by all those, paramilitaries included, who commit human rights violations. That is the EU position to which we subscribe.
How can the Minister support a plan which does not even have the support of the Colombian Congress?
I have explained to the Deputy the EU position which we support.
I call Deputy Michael D. Higgins.
We have no foreign policy any more.
I have called Deputy Michael D. Higgins.
Plan Colombia is an integral package, the core and lead part of which is military based. The Minister referred in his reply to the question of helicopters. Deputies have asked him about the significance of that. The EU part of it is a deceit. It is part of a plan that is military dominated. It is talking about assisting communities after they have been uprooted by a military strategy. Communities will be dislocated. Neighbouring countries have said this will simply spread the problems into other countries.
Ceist, le do thoil.
Will the Minister agree, in light of the view of the development subcommittee and the views expressed in the House, to reconsider the Government's support for Plan Colombia and to advance what we want, which is the generation of an alternative which would address the generic needs and would evolve in consultation with the communities involved? That would be consistent with his support for Fr. Forde.
I stated in an earlier reply to the Deputy that any proposals from the development subcommittee will receive our consideration and a considered reply.
It is a bit late.
The question asked about our position, which is aligned totally with the EU position.
That is disastrous. It is an unthinking position.
It is Deputy Higgins' view that it is disastrous. It is a common EU position which is providing assistance in specific areas of activity which are not military in nature.
We wanted the Minister to change the EU position.
The question arose in relation to the safety of Fr. Forde. Is the Minister aware that around the same time as the issue arose in relation to Fr. Forde, another Irish citizen, with connections in my area, Tristan Garcia, was kidnapped in Colombia? Is the Minister, in the context of any assurances Fr. Forde might receive about his future safety, aware of the fate that befell that young Irish citizen?
He was 17 years of age.
In the light of the fact that that young man and his colleague were murdered, is the Minister cognisant of the fact that Fr. Forde lives in a continuing dangerous situation? We and the Government could not do anything in relation to this young lad who was murdered. Can we do anything to indicate our concern about Fr. Forde's safety?
As I said to Deputy Hayes when he raised this issue earlier, everything possible is being done to ensure the safety of Fr. Forde. I think that is acknowledged. The need for that is re-emphasised by the outcome to which the Deputy referred in respect of another citizen. It is a terrible situation which we are watching closely. Our ambassador to Colombia who has responsibility there is engaged in this matter on a priority basis.
