LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Colombia: President Uribe
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[A]llegations have surfaced in Colombia that the President himself has links to right-wing paramilitaries who murdered hundreds, including labor-union activists. On May 14, 20 Colombian lawmakers and businessmen were arrested on charges in connection with the scandal. Colombia's police chief and head of police intelligence, meanwhile, were ousted amid allegations of illegal wiretapping of opposition politicians and journalists. Uribe vehemently denies any personal connection to the affair. (See Alvaro Uribe: The Change Agent).
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On Monday, April 11th, the President of Colombia attended private encounter with H.E Emperor Akihito. President Uribe gladly informed about improvements on security, economy, education, environment, social mobility and reduction of the poverty.
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The Dec., 2004, kidnapping by bounty hunters in Venezuela of a FARC leader, who was then turned over to Colombian authorities, led to a brief crisis in Colombia's relations with Venezuela in early 2005. Colombia first denied any involvement in the incident, claiming the rebel was captured in a Colombian border town, but subsequently admitted a bounty had been paid. The dispute between the two nations was settled by Feb., 2005, when the nations' presidents met in Caracas, Venezuela.
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The President and Congress of Colombia recently adopted a law to guide the demobilization of armed groups, beginning with the paramilitary forces. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that this law will result in greater impunity and de facto amnesties for horrific human rights violations committed by Colombia's paramilitary forces. »Moreactions
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Armed Forces Overview: The president is commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas de Colombia—FAC). The civilian-led Ministry of Defense is responsible for internal and external security and oversees both the police and the armed forces, including the army, air force, and navy. Under the Uribe administration, the minister of defense has only administrative duties because the president has assumed personal command of the military. The FAC consist of the army (Ejército Nacional); navy (Armada Nacional), including naval aviation, marines, and coast guard; air force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana); and paramilitary National Police (Policía Nacional—PN). The commanders of the three services (army, navy, and air force) are responsible to the commander general of the armed forces, who reports directly to the Ministry of Defense. The president is advised by the Superior Council of Defense and Security (Consejo Superior de Defensa y Seguridad—CSDS).
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This task is complicated by the internal conflict that exists within Colombia. Terrorist groups such as the FARC, the AUC, and the ELN battle for control of drug-producing areas and use the profits from the drug trade to undermine Colombian democracy and rule of law. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has countered this narco-terrorist threat by allowing willing groups to demobilize and by attacking those that do not, both directly and by targeting their economic base in the drug trade.
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President Uribe