Dowbrigade

It’s
hard to even imagine a solution to the Latin tradegy that is Colombia.
An
article in tomorrow’s New York Times captures the difficulty and dangers
inherent
in retuning that beautiful county to its rightful owners.

"…an older, festering crime
that lies at the root of Colombia’s 40-year conflict
is
stepping
up -the
illegal
seizure
of
Colombia’s
most
fertile
land, according
to United Nations officials, land experts in the government and human
rights groups.

As the government negotiates demobilization with the 15,000-member
paramilitary force, its leaders are quietly laundering accumulated
drug money by taking control of huge tracts, often at the point of a
gun.
Most
of the victims are poor, voiceless farmers, but the officials say even
some big landowners have lost their prized farms."

from the New
York Times