Washington's official reason for boycotting the March 8 meeting is the pending case of a FARC front's February 1999 murders of three U.S. indigenous-rights activists in northeastern Colombia. The Center for International Policy joins in a forceful condemnation of the 1999 murders, and reiterates its call on the FARC to cease immediately its pattern of systematic violation of international humanitarian law. We also note, however, that several murders of U.S. citizens did not prevent the Reagan Administration from pouring aid on El Salvador's military during the 1980s. It is deeply disappointing that the United States has chosen to reject President Pastrana's invitation. Whether intended or unintended, the message received in Colombia will be that the United States has limitless resources and political will where military aid is concerned, but is unwilling even to take symbolic action to support Colombia's peace process.
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