Eradication without prior consultation: the aerial fumigation of coca in the black communities of the Colombian Pacific

Abstract

ABSTRACTUntil October 2015, Colombia was the only country in the world still permitting the controversial practice of aerially fumigating illicit crops – mostly coca and, to a lesser extent, opium poppies – despite evidence that suggested serious violations of the socio-environmental rights of affected communities. According to US and Colombian authorities involved in the conduct of aerial eradication, however, most of this criticism was unwarranted or exaggerated. This article, based on interviews conducted in the last year the aerial eradication program was in operation, analyzes the disconnection between officials involved in the oversight of the aerial eradication and related policy versus black communities of the Pacific region affected by this strategy. More specifically, it examines why these rural black communities, supposedly guaranteed the right to prior consultation, were never granted this process and why the aerial eradication complaint system failed to address the grievances lodged against it. The article concludes by reflecting on the implications for the territorial rights of black communities and illicit-crop eradication in Colombia.