Reports of false positives in illicit crops are the result of perverse incentives: experts

Whereas Diego Molano, Colombia’s new Protection Minister
, acknowledged the studies of false positives in illicit crops recognized in Noticias Caracol
, experts level out why these doubts are being raised about the precise eradication figures.

Molano argued that « the actions and arguments have been introduced and the place actions needed to be taken in these ten specific instances, since the choices have been made, we are going to evaluation if there’s any extra data. »

That, unquestionably, might be one of his first duties as head of the Protection portfolio.

In the meantime, Daniel Rico, former advisor to the Ministry of Protection, maintained that “All that is the adaptive result of perverse incentives in the combat towards medication. To point out exaggerated outcomes with out looking for to generate transformation circumstances at the territorial and native degree ”.

And he added: “The issue will not be solely with the civil servant, the officer, the growers who are domestically doing the eradication course of, however it’s particularly in the definition of goals and objectives that are made at the highest degree, in the Ministry of Protection and The presidency ».

“This occurs as a consequence of nice stress from the nationwide authorities and the United States that demand that Colombia, in order to not decertify a excessive quantity in the eradication of coca leaf crops, « stated Néstor Rosanía, director of the Heart for Safety and Peace Research.

For Ariel Ávila, deputy director of the Peace and Reconciliation Basis, “we have to strengthen the assault on different mechanisms, on different hyperlinks in the chain
, in order to do that effectively. If not, we are going to find yourself in a recreation, in an countless vicious circle, of cat and mouse, the place this may price many lives « .

In mid-January, the Protection Ministry reported one of the highest figures thus far this century: 131,000 hectares have been uprooted in 2020. Now the complaints solid a shadow of doubt on the quantity.

In 2020, 16 individuals – between the navy and eradicators who participated in these efforts – have been killed, 107 extra have been injured. Additional, 1,862 violent clashes have been registered between the uniformed males and the coca growers.