{"id":162042,"date":"2020-06-01T12:00:57","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T11:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=162042"},"modified":"2021-02-19T08:54:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T08:54:50","slug":"colombian-political-figures-activists-reject-us-troops-arrival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/06\/colombian-political-figures-activists-reject-us-troops-arrival\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombian Political Figures, Activists Reject US Troops’ Arrival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The U.S. military “cannot enter Colombian territory going over Congress to advise the fight against drug trafficking,” Senator for the Patriotic Union party Aida Avella said.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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The SFAB was activated in February 2018. It served a deployment to Afghanistan and sent units to Europe and Africa. | Photo: EFE<\/p><\/div>\n

31 May 2020 – <\/em>Political figures in Colombia along with activists continue to reject and condemn the arrival Monday [1 Jun] of U.S. Army’s 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) in the South American nation, for allegedly helping in the fight against drug trafficking.<\/p>\n

Former Senator Piedad Cordoba ironically tweeted that if 800 U.S. soldiers are coming for counternarcotics operations in the region, they should \u201cstart with the case of drug trafficker \u00d1e\u00f1e Hernandez, who financed a presidential campaign.”<\/p>\n

For his part, former President Ernesto Samper warned that allowing foreign troops into the country without the Senate\u2019s authorization could lead to disciplinary and criminal proceedings against President Ivan Duque and his Defense Ministry, for “ignoring jurisprudence of the Constitutional and the State Council.”<\/p>\n

Likewise, Samper said the country\u2019s Congress is the only authority with the power to legally permit the permanence of foreign troops on national soil.<\/p>\n

Related: <\/strong><\/em>Precautionary Measures Needed In Colombia, FARC Requests IACHR<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The former president, who currently serves as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Secretary-General, also shared a message from the Colombian organization for peace \u201cVivamos Humanos\u201d (Let’s Live Human) which also rejects the entry of U.S. troops into the country.<\/p>\n

The organization stressed the need to submit this matter to Congress\u00a0for consideration, because “the troops do not come in transit but rather to settle in conflict zones.”<\/p>\n

Similarly, senator for the Patriotic Union party, Aida Avella urged the president of Congress, Lidio Garcia, to convene a session as soon as possible to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n

The U.S.\u00a0military \u201ccannot enter Colombian territory above Congress’ to advise the fight against drug trafficking,\u201d she wrote on Twitter, recalling that alleged support from the U.S. military always leave countries looted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe reject the use of the country for wars and invasions to other countries,\u201d Avella also said as some think the troops are in fact being deployed as a message of threat to neighboring Venezuela.<\/p>\n

Recently, Colombia has served as a base of operations for a foiled invasion, kidnapping and assassination attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by mercenaries. The botched operation was officially contracted by Venezuelan lawmaker and opponent Juan Guaido who is supported by Washington.<\/p>\n

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#HandsOffVenezuela<\/a> | #JuanGuaido<\/a> is openly joining ranks with #war<\/a>-criminals seeking a military option for #Venezuela<\/a>.#TrumpUnblockVenezuela<\/a>#TrumpHandsOffVenezuela<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Up40KyRqF7<\/a><\/p>\n

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n