With Colombia being heralded as the model of the Latin American war against drugs (with a “little help” from the United States), some human rights organizations within the South American country are questioning Colombia’s numbers when it comes to just how well they are killing off opposition.

Codhes, a respected Colombian NGO, analysed the statistics of recent successes claimed by the armed forces in the 44-year civil conflict.

About 114,000 members of the warring factions were said to have been dealt with by the army in the last six years.

However, other estimates say there are only 30,000 in the warring factions.

Even allowing for recruiting to replenish depleted ranks, the government figures suggest that eight members of the warring factions are killed every single day in Colombia, something not substantiated by any other sources.

What’s so disturbing about this isn’t even so much the numbers, but even the mere idea that for the Uribe government success is measured in casualties. Not included in these figures of course are the huge number of civilian deaths.

Sounds like the U.S. definition of “victory” in Iraq. No wonder Uribe and Bush are such friends.

This is really important as the U.S. uses Colombia as a model for other nations, namely Mexico.

Via / BBC