FARC PLENARY SESSION ISSUES COMMUNIQUE ON NEW "TAXES"
Date Reported: Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Incident Type: SECURITY
Country: NATIONWIDE, COLOMBIA Incident: The Bogota daily El Espectador reported that the FARC has announced a new policy to collect funds from Colombian entities with estates worth 1 million US dollars or more. According to the article, a communique entitled Law No. 2 and issued by the plenary session of the FARC senior command on April 24, 2000, delineated the specifics of "a tribute law and peace tax." The decree, effective immediately, requires all qualifying residents to make contact with FARC in order to arrange payment. Those who do not will be faced with an additional penalty tax and a warning; failure to pay after this warning will result in a person being "retained" until payment is made. The exact amount of the "peace tax" is not stated. The policy was part of a package of decrees passed by FARC during its plenary session, which took place in the demilitarized zone from March 21-25, 2000. Other decrees that were passed included the repeal of extradition, the legalization of drug use, and a statement on the peace process that has yet to be released.
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