[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 76 (Thursday, June 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1182-E1183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE PLIGHT OF THE AFRO-COLOMBIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2005

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring light to the continuing 
neglect of Afro-Descendent people in Colombia. This past May 21, 2005, 
Colombia marked the 154th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. Yet, 
African descendant minorities, who comprises 26 percent of the 
population, continues to be mistreated, marginalized socially and 
economically, and are pushed to the fringes of society.
  Afro-Colombians are displaced from their ancestral lands which is one 
of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, so that extra-judicial 
groups such as the FARC, ELN and AUC are able to grow crops for drug 
trafficking. This population is, by far, the most repressed group in 
Colombia. They have the lowest national per capita income, the highest 
rates of illiteracy, high indices of infant mortality, and startling 
rates of preventable diseases.
  Though the Colombian government is starting to make strides in 
breaking down the power of guerrilla and paramilitary groups, it has 
not done enough to protect Afro-Colombian territories. Historically, 
Afro-Colombian territories such as Choco are of great strategic 
importance to securing the United States. Choco is in essence at the 
crossroads between Central America and South America. It also has 
access to the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea making Choco a very 
attractive launching pad for Colombia's extra-judicial actors.
  These illegally armed actors should not and must not be exempt from 
prosecution for the human rights violations carried out under their 
leadership. The oppression of the Afro-Colombian population by these 
military groups must cease and desist. It is the responsibility of the 
Colombian government to secure its communities by eliminating such 
groups who have murdered, raped, and displaced the Afro-Colombian 
people.
  We must do more in humanitarian assistance to provide better aid to 
those Afro-Colombians who have been displaced. Groups such as the 
Social Solidarity Network, Afro-Latino Development Alliance, the Black 
Mayors Federation, and AFRODES, in collaboration with local NGOs, are 
laying the foundation for advancements in healthcare, education, 
sustainable development, community kitchens, housing and other programs 
to address the needs of the displaced. Additionally, organizations such 
as USAID, Pan American Development Foundation, and the Colombian 
National Police are now finally planning to hire Afro-Colombians for 
technical and professional positions that will be beneficial to the 
Afro-Colombian community.

[[Page E1183]]

  It is imperative that, more coordination by the Colombian government, 
our State Department and the philanthropic communities develop 
mechanisms to address this critical issue. President Uribe of Colombia 
agreed to the creation of a Cabinet level appointee to address the 
crisis facing Afro-Colombians and we are waiting for this to happen. 
This person will provide coordination amongst the Colombian government, 
the State Department, NGOs and other groups to address the plight of 
the Afro-Colombian communities. This will afford Afro-Colombians a 
voice in public policy that will ultimately have an impact on their 
communities.
  The role of the United States must be, as it has in the past, multi-
faceted. We must work closely with the Colombian government, our State 
Department and USAID to fight this crisis on all fronts. We must help 
to put an end to the oppression that the Afro-Colombian people have 
endured over the past 154 years since the abolishment of slavery.
  Mr. Speaker, we must contribute more money in the area of sustainable 
development and rely less on military aid to solve Colombia's problems. 
We cannot continue to allow the egregious human rights violations 
within the Afro-Colombian community to continue. We must hold the 
Colombian government accountable on its human rights record and for its 
neglect of the Afro-Colombians.

                          ____________________