Sovereignty and the rule of law are under threat from Trump’s attacks on Lula’s administration just as they have been across Latin America, argue CARLOS MARTINEZ and SARA VIVACQUA
WHEN the New York Times reported in May that Colombian military generals had ordered increased kills and captures of members of armed groups, the government swiftly sought to minimise potential damage to its human rights image.
The revelations brought back alarming memories of the military’s role in systematic extrajudicial executions known as “False Positives,” the majority of which were committed under the Alvaro Uribe governments of the 2000s.
The False Positives saw the army lure thousands of young and poor people with false job offers before murdering them and dressing them in guerilla uniforms to imply success in combatting the Farc insurgency. Soldiers also received financial incentives and other rewards for kills.
The disputed election of a far-right president, who is also a US citizen, signals further consolidation of Washington’s regional power and represents a threat to the country’s democracy and sovereignty, writes WT WHITNEY JNR
With Petro, Colombia has been making huge strides towards peace — but is all that at risk with the elections next year? MARK ROWE reports back after joining a delegation to the Latin American country
Colombia’s success in controlling the drug trade should be recognised and its sovereignty respected, argues Dr GLORY SAAVEDRA



