Corruption in Colombia
Encyclopedia
Corruption in Colombia is a pervasive problem at all levels of government
. Colombia
currently ranks 78 in the Corruption Perceptions Index
.
Different factors have contributed to political corruption in Colombia including drug trafficking, guerrilla and paramilitary conflict
, weak surveillance and regulation from institutions, threats and harassment to whistle-blowers and a widespread apathy from society to address unethical behavior.
. In addition to the economic cost of corruption, other aspects of the Colombian society have been affected such as the loss of credibility in politicians, loss of credibility in the Colombian government, discouragement and demoralization of society to participate in anything related to politics.
In 2005 a study published by Transparency for Colombia (Transparencia por Colombia) assessed the index of integrity of governments, assemblies and comptroller at the department
level and concluded that none of those dependencies scored an appropriate level of integrity and that 51% were prone to high or very high levels of corruption.
Colombia's modern corruption takes place mostly at the level of business between politicians and officials with private contractors and companies. The lack of ethical behavior on both sides, private individuals or organizations and politicians have resulted in a culture known in Colombia as "serrucho" (jigsaw). In which it is almost the norm for individuals to bribe politicians in order to be granted contracts and where politicians add commissions and extra costs for their own benefit.Other sources of corruption come from the result of privatization of government owned institutions in which the profits are used by individuals for their own wealth.
According to Transparency for Colombia, the country ranks 70 in the Perception of Corruption index. However the problem of corruption is a priority to only 2.9% of the people interviewed versus violence which is a priority to 31.49% and unemployment with 20.7%
According to a study by the University of Externado
, it was revealed that corruption is one of the main factors that renders doing business a difficult issue in Colombia. 91% of entrepreneurs considers that there are business owners that pay bribes. 16.92% considers that a businessperson will offer a bribe and out of 28.4% of entrepreneurs that were asked for money or favors by a government official, only 8.52% denounced it to the authorities in an effective way.
Current levels of corruption have increased steadily since 2009 and they continue getting worse as the General attorney and the comptroller discovers corruption at almost every level of government from local to national. In September 2009 48.000 government officials including 800 mayors and 30 governors were being investigated for corruption. The issue of corruption have not been isolated to one political party with accusations of corruption across the political spectrum
from right-wing conservatives in the Party of National Unity, to the left-wing Democratic Pole
.
The discouragement of the society to address the many cases of corruption in Colombia also stem from the well known immunity. Only a small percentage of officials investigated for corruption are likely to suffer legal consequences. In addition it is difficult for the judicial system to handle many investigations at lower levels. At the top, politicians avoid prosecution by political maneuvers and loopholes, sometimes under the protection of their own political party. Example of this is the attempt of the Party of the U to pass a bill that would protect its politicians involved in the parapolitics scandal.
Colombia's corruption is also the result of a long coexistence between the narco trafficking and a rush of society to achieve easy wealth, thus rendering every aspect of society vulnerable to corruption, from politics, to agriculture and sports.
The concept of bribery is embedded in Colombia's society and the culture of "bite" (mordida) or "saw
" (serrucho) are part of a subculture with its own language and expressions that are so widespread to almost make it the norm.
Many institutions in Colombia have been the subject of administrative corruption. Large institutions that span across industries are example of major cases of corruption including: Ferrovias (National railroad administration), Caprecom (health care), Foncolpuertos (ports authority), Termorrio (energy), Dragacol (civil engineering), Chivor reservoir (water supply) and contracts with foreign companies such as Mexican ICA for the pavement of streets in Bogota
are just some of them.
A study made by the UN revealed that globally the cost of corruption by official employees is ten times the cost of illegal acts by common felony.This can be proven in Colombia where the problem is so big and widespread that "nobody knows what to do about it". Recent studies of criminal behavior in the country indicates that while the rate of crime grew annually in about 39.7%, the criminal behavior by officials at the government local and national grew 164.1% and despite such increase there are few convictions
. The levels of administrative corruption are so high that as of 2011 the media reports of such felonies overshadow the number of stories on terrorism or armed conflict.
that has affected Colombia for 50 years.
Government of Colombia
The government of Colombiais a republic with separation of powers into executive, judicial and legislative branches.Its legislature has a congress,its judiciary has a supreme court, andits executive branch has a president....
. Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
currently ranks 78 in the Corruption Perceptions Index
Corruption Perceptions Index
Since 1995, Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index annually ranking countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys." The CPI generally defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for private...
.
Different factors have contributed to political corruption in Colombia including drug trafficking, guerrilla and paramilitary conflict
Colombian Armed Conflict
The Colombian armed conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, between the Colombian government and peasant guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed...
, weak surveillance and regulation from institutions, threats and harassment to whistle-blowers and a widespread apathy from society to address unethical behavior.
Impact of corruption
Between 1989 and 1999 corruption in Colombia summed 3.5 billion USD in frauds. This is equivalent to the Colombian society losing 1% of its GDPGross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
. In addition to the economic cost of corruption, other aspects of the Colombian society have been affected such as the loss of credibility in politicians, loss of credibility in the Colombian government, discouragement and demoralization of society to participate in anything related to politics.
In 2005 a study published by Transparency for Colombia (Transparencia por Colombia) assessed the index of integrity of governments, assemblies and comptroller at the department
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
level and concluded that none of those dependencies scored an appropriate level of integrity and that 51% were prone to high or very high levels of corruption.
Colombia's modern corruption takes place mostly at the level of business between politicians and officials with private contractors and companies. The lack of ethical behavior on both sides, private individuals or organizations and politicians have resulted in a culture known in Colombia as "serrucho" (jigsaw). In which it is almost the norm for individuals to bribe politicians in order to be granted contracts and where politicians add commissions and extra costs for their own benefit.Other sources of corruption come from the result of privatization of government owned institutions in which the profits are used by individuals for their own wealth.
According to Transparency for Colombia, the country ranks 70 in the Perception of Corruption index. However the problem of corruption is a priority to only 2.9% of the people interviewed versus violence which is a priority to 31.49% and unemployment with 20.7%
According to a study by the University of Externado
Universidad Externado de Colombia
The Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia, is a private university which grants 4 and 5 year primary and professional degrees as well as advanced 2-year Magister degrees. Instruction is primarily in Spanish. The dean is Dr...
, it was revealed that corruption is one of the main factors that renders doing business a difficult issue in Colombia. 91% of entrepreneurs considers that there are business owners that pay bribes. 16.92% considers that a businessperson will offer a bribe and out of 28.4% of entrepreneurs that were asked for money or favors by a government official, only 8.52% denounced it to the authorities in an effective way.
Current levels of corruption have increased steadily since 2009 and they continue getting worse as the General attorney and the comptroller discovers corruption at almost every level of government from local to national. In September 2009 48.000 government officials including 800 mayors and 30 governors were being investigated for corruption. The issue of corruption have not been isolated to one political party with accusations of corruption across the political spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
from right-wing conservatives in the Party of National Unity, to the left-wing Democratic Pole
Alternative Democratic Pole
The Alternative Democratic Pole is a political alliance in Colombia, formed by the Independent Democratic Pole and the Democratic Alternative in December 2005...
.
The discouragement of the society to address the many cases of corruption in Colombia also stem from the well known immunity. Only a small percentage of officials investigated for corruption are likely to suffer legal consequences. In addition it is difficult for the judicial system to handle many investigations at lower levels. At the top, politicians avoid prosecution by political maneuvers and loopholes, sometimes under the protection of their own political party. Example of this is the attempt of the Party of the U to pass a bill that would protect its politicians involved in the parapolitics scandal.
Colombia's corruption is also the result of a long coexistence between the narco trafficking and a rush of society to achieve easy wealth, thus rendering every aspect of society vulnerable to corruption, from politics, to agriculture and sports.
The concept of bribery is embedded in Colombia's society and the culture of "bite" (mordida) or "saw
Saw
A saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive...
" (serrucho) are part of a subculture with its own language and expressions that are so widespread to almost make it the norm.
Many institutions in Colombia have been the subject of administrative corruption. Large institutions that span across industries are example of major cases of corruption including: Ferrovias (National railroad administration), Caprecom (health care), Foncolpuertos (ports authority), Termorrio (energy), Dragacol (civil engineering), Chivor reservoir (water supply) and contracts with foreign companies such as Mexican ICA for the pavement of streets in Bogota
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
are just some of them.
A study made by the UN revealed that globally the cost of corruption by official employees is ten times the cost of illegal acts by common felony.This can be proven in Colombia where the problem is so big and widespread that "nobody knows what to do about it". Recent studies of criminal behavior in the country indicates that while the rate of crime grew annually in about 39.7%, the criminal behavior by officials at the government local and national grew 164.1% and despite such increase there are few convictions
Conviction
In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
. The levels of administrative corruption are so high that as of 2011 the media reports of such felonies overshadow the number of stories on terrorism or armed conflict.
Politic scandals
Colombian corruption scandals are often related to the conflictColombian Armed Conflict
The Colombian armed conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, between the Colombian government and peasant guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed...
that has affected Colombia for 50 years.
- The Proceso 8000Proceso 80008,000 Process was the unofficial name of the legal investigation of events surrounding accusations that the Liberal candidate Ernesto Samper's 1994 campaign for President of Colombia was partially funded with drug money...
, the legal investigation to the events that happened in the middle-1990s, when the president of Colombia, Ernesto SamperErnesto SamperErnesto Samper Pizano is a Colombian politician. He served as the President of Colombia from August 7, 1994 to August 7, 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was involved in the 8000 process scandal, which takes its name from the folio number assigned to it by the chief prosecutor's office...
, was accused of receiving money from drug lordDrug lordA drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
s for his electoral campaign. - The Colombian parapolitics scandalColombian parapolitics scandalThe Colombian parapolitics scandal or "parapolítica" in Spanish refers to the 2006–present Colombian congressional scandal in which several congressmen and other politicians have been indicted for suspicions of colluding with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia , a paramilitary group which...
, the recent discovery of many links between politicians and paramilitaries. Many supporters of Álvaro UribeÁlvaro UribeAlvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
's government are involved in this scandal. - The Farcpolitics Scandal, the discovery of links between politicians and the FARC. This scandal does not only involve Colombian opposition politicians, but also involves Venezuela and Ecuador governments, as well as a senator of the United States.
- The Yidispolitics ScandalYidispolitics ScandalYidispolitics is the name given to the continuing public scandal in Colombia, since April 2008, when the ex-politician Yidis Medina admitted to receiving of bribes to vote in favor of the re-election project, which changed the constitution, on allowed Álvaro Uribe Vélez to become president for a...
, caused by declarations of the Colombian ex-representantive, Yidis Medina, in which she claims that Colombian government offered her important jobs and money if she voted for the approval of Uribe's reelection. - The DIAN http://www.dian.gov.co/ (Office of taxation and customs) scandal in which the administrative staff plotted ways to steal millions of dollars from the Colombian taxpayers through a complex system of fake companies and legal loopholes.
- In 2011 a number of mayors in different departments misused money that was supposed to help Colombians that were affected by floods. Instead of using this money for the victims this officials used the funds for political campaigns and personal matters.
- In September 2011 former mayor of Bogota Samuel Moreno was convicted for irregularities in contracts with private businesses, under a scandal named "contract carousel" by the media.
See also
- Corruption by country
- Colombian parapolitics scandalColombian parapolitics scandalThe Colombian parapolitics scandal or "parapolítica" in Spanish refers to the 2006–present Colombian congressional scandal in which several congressmen and other politicians have been indicted for suspicions of colluding with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia , a paramilitary group which...
- Yidispolitics ScandalYidispolitics ScandalYidispolitics is the name given to the continuing public scandal in Colombia, since April 2008, when the ex-politician Yidis Medina admitted to receiving of bribes to vote in favor of the re-election project, which changed the constitution, on allowed Álvaro Uribe Vélez to become president for a...
- Proceso 8000Proceso 80008,000 Process was the unofficial name of the legal investigation of events surrounding accusations that the Liberal candidate Ernesto Samper's 1994 campaign for President of Colombia was partially funded with drug money...