Colombian government issued decree to reactivate aerial spraying of glyphosate

Despite the fact that Colombian communities and several international organizations have spoken out on the risks of eradicating illicit crops with glyphosate, the Colombian government issued a decree on April 12 to resume the practice. In order for the aerial spraying of this chemical to be carried out again in the country, the document presented by the administration of President Iván Duque must be accepted by the National Narcotics Council, group which in 2015 suspended this same process.

The current government ensures that if the practice is approved, this would be done in a precise and controlled manner on extensive crops so as not to jeopardize the communities and the ecosystem. The decree specifies that spraying will not be carried out on areas of the system of national natural parks, regional natural parks, strategic ecosystems such as paramos, Ramsar category wetlands and mangroves, water bodies and populated centers.

“Colombia must have the absolute peace of mind that we are going to carry out a precision spraying that guarantees the environmental license, which protects the environment, which protects health, that it is absolutely regulated, but above all that protects the peasants. The decision of President Duque, the government, the military and the police is to move forward with spraying because the enemy of Colombia is illicit cultivation. Every minute that passes and that we do not advance in an accelerated manner in the reduction of these hectares generates more violence ”, said Diego Molano, Minister of Defense, in a statement posted on social networks.

The decree provides that the Ministry of Defense (MinDefensa), the Ministry of Health (MinSalud) and the Ministry of Justice (MinJusticia), enter into contracts and agreements with independent control over operational parameters and control of health risks.

Likewise, the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) and the National Institute of Health (INS) will participate in the process. they will monitor the effects of using glyphosate. Findings should be reported to the CNE so that it can assess them and decide whether to suspend or modify the aerial spray program.

“This includes the automatic review of decisions by the CNE. To this end, it is determined that the ANLA and the INS, in the event of proof of new impacts or risks not envisaged in the program evaluation and monitoring instruments, will examine and send the corresponding report to the CNE. The latter, in turn, must give a reasoned statement whether it maintains, modifies or suspends the program for the eradication of illicit crops by means of the aerial spraying method. “, indicates the government communication.

Since the above-mentioned ministries and state entities are directly involved in the process, the Government indicates that a different institution is needed to be responsible for receiving complaints. entrusted the task to the national police.

Hours after the news became known, various sectors of the country, in particular the peasants and the natives, were against the decree.. Those affected do not trust the police or other institutions that make up the country’s strength because on numerous occasions, they carried out forced eradication actions which ended in clashes.

While it is true that the controversial decree is not yet in execution because it must be approved by the CNE, theThe chances of this happening are very high. The Board is made up of close collaborators of the Duque administration such as the Ministers of Health, Education, Agriculture, the Director General of the National Police, the Director General of Customs, the Head of the Administrative Department of Civil Aeronautics and the Attorney General of the Nation.

The communities assure that it is not necessary to resume this practice since they are willing and committed to “Voluntary substitution and transition to legal economies” as long as the national government respects the agreement and the process is carried out in accordance with what was agreed in the Final Peace Agreement. The proposal is that the National Comprehensive Substitution Plan (PNIS) be carried out to eradicate crops quietly and everyone benefits.

In addition, they are supported by a letter he sent the United Nations (UN) on December 17 to the national government in which he asked to reconsider the implementation of the eradication by glyphosate. The document is signed by seven special rapporteurs of the entity representing various sectors: Toxic substances, descendants of Africans, environment, right to food, right to health, situation of human rights defenders and rights of indigenous peoples. They reject the Glyphosate Illicit Crop Eradication Program (PECIG) becauseThey argue that the use of the chemical has serious consequences for health and the environment.

“We wish to draw the attention of His Excellency’s Government to our concern regarding the intention of the Colombian State to reactivate PECIG and the associated risks to human rights and the environment. These events take place against a backdrop of systematic violence against indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples and human rights defenders who work for the protection of the right to health and the environment in the country >>, he reads in the letter which spans nine pages.

The UN explained that, there is strong evidence of the harmful effects of glyphosate on health reproductive life of women and domestic animals and pollinators. the same, water and pancoger cultures would be affected, that is, the main livelihoods of the communities where the program will be implemented.

The resumption of PECIG “I would attack and rape” human rights protected by international law. In addition, goes against the commitments that Colombia has signed with regard to the prevention of exposure to hazardous substances and wastes, respect for the rights of children, indigenous peoples and descendants of Africans. He would not even abide by the Final Peace Agreement.

Another argument of the UN rapporteurs for rejecting the program is linked to the “Participatory deficit” who had the process. This fact would preclude inclusion and ignore testimonials from citizens and communities about how the chemical affects their lives.

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