Shame and Derision

Under former president Uribe of Colombia, recently appointed by the UN to investigate Israel’s attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Colombia’s indigenous peoples experienced horrific atrocities. Terrorized by the Colombian state for the benefit of multinational companies after their lands and resources, Colombia’s indigenous communities have much in common with those of Palestine. As the largest recipient of US military aid in the hemisphere, Colombia, like Israel — the largest US military beneficiary in the world — is committed to an ongoing program of violating human rights in the most egregious manner. By selecting Uribe, the UN has brought shame and derision on its institutional integrity, and a distinct hindrance on the ability of the UN Human Rights Council to make progress on its mission.