Land Theft in Colombia by Right-Wing Paramilitaries

Juan Forero has a thought-provoking article in today's New York Times on allegations of coercive land "purchases" by members of the AUC, the right-wing paramilitary group who have financed their efforts through the sale of drugs (and who have their own website). Purchases of properties have been increasing lately and they certainly appear to be anything but voluntary:

It was a breathtakingly beautiful spread, 6,000 acres for cattle and crops on one of southern Colombia's most fertile plains, and the family that owned it had no plans to move. But when, late last year, shadowy men arrived and proposed a sale — and set a bargain-basement price — the owners felt it was an offer they could not refuse, said one of the family members, asking for anonymity.

The buyers, after all, were paramilitary bullies, swaggering, armed members of one of Colombia's right-wing armies, who along with drug traffickers have been gobbling up land across Colombia, either by forcing farmers off their plots or using intimidation to prod owners to sell.

"You have to give it up or they will kill you or kidnap you," said an urbane Bogotá intellectual, a member of the family that lost the farm. "You take what they offer and that is it. What can you do?"

The government doesn't seem to be as concerned:

The president has told judges to be swift about seizing illegally obtained properties, and officials insist that they will crack down on the paramilitary groups.

"All those lands can be expropriated by the state," Luis Carlos Restrepo, Mr. Uribe's top negotiator with insurgent groups, said in an interview.

But experts say that actually resolving this messy, complicated state of affairs will be an uphill battle.

Even determining the legality of a piece of property is often impossible, since drug traffickers and paramilitary groups often register newly purchased properties in the names of third parties. There is little chance that any properties will be found registered in the names of such paramilitary warlords as Carlos Castaño , Salvatore Mancuso or Diego Fernando Murillo, three top leaders of the organization who are said to control wide swaths of territory.

As I've said before, I have no use for either left-wing or right-wing paramilitaries, guerrillas, terrorists, etc., in Colombia. They are all monstrous, their actions are utterly contemptible and my sympathies lie 100% with the victims and the millions of average Colombians trying to lead decent, normal lives free of fear. I cannot help but feel, however, that President Uribe is not as motivated to seek justice against the AUC as he is against the FARC. Considering that the FARC murdered his father, I certainly can't blame him for his loathing of the FARC, but terrorism is terrorism and the AUC has proudly referred to themselves as "headsplitters,"and have done their share of terrorizing Colombians who don't do their bidding. These land "purchases" are pure extortion. Both FARC and AUC leaders need to be brought to justice.