Colombia
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swathes of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
Travelers to and expatriate personnel in Colombia should be aware that the security situation is volatile. Violence by criminal, left-wing guerrilla and right-wing paramilitary organizations is widespread. Kidnappings for both political and financial gain by both leftist rebels and criminal gangs is rampant and travel by road outside the major cities is especially dangerous.
Although travel to Bogota and other major cities is generally safe, foreigners are at risk of being caught up in a terrorist incident. Tourist, entertainment and business centers popular with expatriates are particularly vulnerable. A high level of vigilance should be observed when visiting public places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping malls. Areas of concern in Bogota include the "Zona Rosa" and "Parque 93".
All travel to Choco, Putumayo, Meta, Caqueta, Narino and Norte de Santander departments should be avoided because of a high risk to personal safety. Travel should also be avoided to the rural areas of Arauca, Sucre, Bolivar. Travel to rural areas of Antioquia and Cauca departments should be avoided because armed criminal groups are active in these areas. The capitals of these departments may still be visited by air.
Despite the internal security situation, business and tourist visitors can travel to major cities in Colombia, subject to sensible precautions. In addition to Bogota, such important business centers include Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cartagena. Cartagena is also a popular tourist destination and venue for major conferences.
In February 2002, peace talks with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) ended and the armed forces subsequently reestablished government control over the demilitarized FARC enclave in southern Colombia. Shortly after the suspension of peace talks, suspected FARC rebels kidnapped opposition presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, at a roadblock erected near a town inside a former rebel stronghold being targeted by air strikes and a military ground offensive. In April 2002 talks also broke down with the National Liberation Army, or ELN. Attempts to revive talks with both groups in 2004 and 2005 have failed. As a result of these developments, there is a likelihood of increased terrorist violence in Colombia.
The security situation in Colombia has worsened in the aftermath of the collapse of peace talks between the government and rebels. Meanwhile, the high number of politically motivated civilian kidnappings, and other guerrilla terrorism, as well as a high urban crime rate and a negative general security situation, all continue to damage the climate for business in Colombia. Narco-trafficking and related corruption profoundly affect much of Colombia’s political and economic environment.
On a brighter note, in July 2003, right-wing paramilitary militia fighters announced a plan to demobilize by the end of 2005, the chief of the nation's largest paramilitary group said. Carlos Castano, head of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), said the decision to disarm his men was irreversible. He added that the conditions that made their existence necessary has ended and that the AUC will begin peace talks with the government and start demobilizing its 13,000 fighters by the end of 2005.
President Alvaro Uribe was Colombia's first presidential candidate to win an outright victory without going into a second round. Described as a hard-line independent, liberal, and right-leaning politician, Uribe picked up 53% of the votes in the May 2002 elections and took office in August 2002, replacing President Andres Pastrana. Uribe pledged to fight the left-wing guerrillas and the right-wing paramilitaries alike. In June 2003 Uribe unveiled a long-awaited security plan, intended to end the war and the drugs trade that fuels it. The plan aimed to establish a police presence in all parts of the country, and to eradicate all drugs crops. Uribe has increased the size of the military and cracked down on rebel groups. He is keen on seeking international mediation to end the violence and bring about what he calls democratic security. He was re-elected in a landslide victory in May 2006.
Since taking office in August 2002, President Alvaro Uribe has enacted political, fiscal and social reform policies, combined with increased security measures in order to promote economic growth and stability. However, Colombia still faces many challenges both externally and internally, including debt management, sagging oil production and unemployment.
Uribe won a landslide victory in presidential elections on May 28, 2006.The Constitutional Court had cleared the way for Uriba to stand for re-election in those polls.
The Colombian government owns the country's hydrocarbon reserves. Oil and natural gas development is regulated by state oil company Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos (Ecopetrol) and the Energy and Mines Ministry. Private companies operate in joint ventures with Ecopetrol, with Ecopetrol legally required to hold at least a 30% share. Britain's BP and U.S. Occidental are the most active foreign companies in the Colombian oil sector.
Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer. Up to three-quarters of the world’s cocaine hydrochloride (HCL) is processed in Colombia.
