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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given by the UK Government to the Columbian armed forces. [203123] Mr. Rammell: We have always made it clear that we do provide, from time-to-time, military and security advice and assistance to the Colombian Government. UK military assistance focuses on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training and British military education. Mines and other explosive devices are responsible for a significant proportion of deaths among the Colombian armed forces, and also have a devastating effect on the civilian population. Bomb Disposal training, which forms the core of our military assistance programme, directly helps the Colombian armed forces to save civilian and military lives. We have also trained elements of the Colombian Authorities engaged in Counter-Narcotics work. We have also assisted the Colombian military on human rights issues. For example, under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Project Fund (HRPF) we recently ran a project to raise awareness of the armed forces on their role in prevention of displacement and protection of the rights of internally displaced persons. We also have an ongoing project on human rights training for the military through the Colombian military justice school; over 5,000 service personnel benefited from such training in 2004. British military training and education introduces personnel to British defence concepts, including the importance of accountable and democratic control of the armed forces, and the use of Rules of Engagement. It improves the ability of the Colombian armed forces to provide security for the Colombian people in a professional manner that preserves democracy and respects human rights.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

203123; 428 c892-3W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Armed forces Bomb disposal Human rights Drugs Training Internally displaced people Colombia Military aid

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk