Andean Group - 6 January 2004
Bordering on a crisis
The border regions of Venezuela and Colombia are rarely quiet, but in recent weeks a number of serious incidents in the area have further inflamed the traditional mutual suspicion of the two neighbouring governments.
The 2,219-km border is poorly policed and houses bases belonging to Colombia's leftist guerrillas as well as rightwing paramilitary groups. And the profits to be made from smuggling goods across the border - particularly Venezuelan gasoline into Colombia - and cross-border kidnapping have made the region a haven for criminal gangs.
The Venezuelan government has frequently criticised the relative lack of military presence on the Colombian side, and has accused the Colombian authorities of failing to prevent armed groups from raiding Venezuelan targets. In return, the Colombian government has accused Venezuela of turning a blind eye to the comings and goings of leftist guerrilla groups, which they believe maintain bases within Venezuela.
Chávez and Uribe
The traditional blame-game for the lawless state of the border has intensified since Hugo Chávez was elected president in Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe won his landslide victory in Colombia. Members of Uribe's rightist government have accused the leftist Chávez of favouring the insurgents on ideological grounds. Meanwhile, the Venezuelans have accused Colombia of failing to act against rightist paramilitaries who accuse the Venezuelan security forces of colluding with their leftist enemies and increasingly view Venezuelan troops as legitimate targets.
December violence
The already tense situation along the border took a sudden violent turn for the worse in December, when Colombian paramilitaries entered Venezuela and attacked national guardsmen. Three Venezuelan soldiers were killed in a paramilitary attack on 18 December, while another four died in a second attack the following day. The Colombian authorities are currently investigating whether the Venezuelan security forces then crossed into Colombian territory in order to look for those responsible.
Residents of the border region reported that the Venezuelan national guard entered Colombia by helicopter on 25 and 27 December. They allegedly carried out a house-to-house search in the village of San Luis Beltrán, before setting fire to three houses.
In a separate incident, Venezuelan troops are also alleged to have entered Colombian territory in late December to look for a gang accused of smuggling Venezuelan gasoline into Colombia. To date, the Venezuelan authorities have officially denied carrying out any operations within Colombia, although their protestations seem unconvincing.
Colombian response
The Venezuelan government had already appointed a commission to investigate the paramilitary incursions, and the Colombians agreed to appoint a similar commission to carry out investigations on its side of the border. The two foreign ministries are currently in discussions about creating a permanent joint commission on border security that would look into incidents as they arise, and which would try to coordinate security operations along the border. Venezuela has strengthened its military presence along the frontier in response to the recent incidents.
Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has proposed that the two countries sign a high-level agreement to improve border security. 'I have frequently pointed out the need to coordinate the two countries' security forces, but it hasn't yet been possible,' Uribe said.
The outcome of the ongoing war of words between Caracas and Bogotá will be watched closely in Washington, where there are already suspicions that Chávez is lukewarm towards Uribe's attempts to destroy the rebels and is soft on the war on drugs.
The 2,219-km border is poorly policed and houses bases belonging to Colombia's leftist guerrillas as well as rightwing paramilitary groups. And the profits to be made from smuggling goods across the border - particularly Venezuelan gasoline into Colombia - and cross-border kidnapping have made the region a haven for criminal gangs.
The Venezuelan government has frequently criticised the relative lack of military presence on the Colombian side, and has accused the Colombian authorities of failing to prevent armed groups from raiding Venezuelan targets. In return, the Colombian government has accused Venezuela of turning a blind eye to the comings and goings of leftist guerrilla groups, which they believe maintain bases within Venezuela.
Chávez and Uribe
The traditional blame-game for the lawless state of the border has intensified since Hugo Chávez was elected president in Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe won his landslide victory in Colombia. Members of Uribe's rightist government have accused the leftist Chávez of favouring the insurgents on ideological grounds. Meanwhile, the Venezuelans have accused Colombia of failing to act against rightist paramilitaries who accuse the Venezuelan security forces of colluding with their leftist enemies and increasingly view Venezuelan troops as legitimate targets.
December violence
The already tense situation along the border took a sudden violent turn for the worse in December, when Colombian paramilitaries entered Venezuela and attacked national guardsmen. Three Venezuelan soldiers were killed in a paramilitary attack on 18 December, while another four died in a second attack the following day. The Colombian authorities are currently investigating whether the Venezuelan security forces then crossed into Colombian territory in order to look for those responsible.
Residents of the border region reported that the Venezuelan national guard entered Colombia by helicopter on 25 and 27 December. They allegedly carried out a house-to-house search in the village of San Luis Beltrán, before setting fire to three houses.
In a separate incident, Venezuelan troops are also alleged to have entered Colombian territory in late December to look for a gang accused of smuggling Venezuelan gasoline into Colombia. To date, the Venezuelan authorities have officially denied carrying out any operations within Colombia, although their protestations seem unconvincing.
Colombian response
The Venezuelan government had already appointed a commission to investigate the paramilitary incursions, and the Colombians agreed to appoint a similar commission to carry out investigations on its side of the border. The two foreign ministries are currently in discussions about creating a permanent joint commission on border security that would look into incidents as they arise, and which would try to coordinate security operations along the border. Venezuela has strengthened its military presence along the frontier in response to the recent incidents.
Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has proposed that the two countries sign a high-level agreement to improve border security. 'I have frequently pointed out the need to coordinate the two countries' security forces, but it hasn't yet been possible,' Uribe said.
The outcome of the ongoing war of words between Caracas and Bogotá will be watched closely in Washington, where there are already suspicions that Chávez is lukewarm towards Uribe's attempts to destroy the rebels and is soft on the war on drugs.