Fishers in Colombia worry as US strikes alleged drug boats

DW (English)

At least 69 people have died since the Trump administration began targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean. The attacks have sparked fear among fishermen in the Colombian coastal city of Santa Marta.

Transcript

00:00Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza was killed in September when US forces fired on his boat.

00:06They say he was transporting drugs. His colleagues strongly disagree.

00:11No, I think that's wrong. I believe they should arrest him first and try him,

00:17not attack him immediately, and find out whether we're fishermen or drug traffickers as they claim.

00:23So I see it as very wrong.

00:27At least 69 people have been killed since the Trump administration started targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

00:34The attacks have led to fear among fishermen in the Colombian city of Santa Marta.

00:39We are afraid to go fishing. Not because we're afraid something will happen to us,

00:45but because no one is held accountable. No one is held responsible for the poor.

00:52Protests over the attacks have triggered a crisis in US-Colombian relations.

00:58As a result, some leaders have chosen not to attend a summit between the EU

01:02and the regional Latin American bloc CELAC.

01:07The summit of Latin American and Caribbean states, along with the European Union,

01:12is taking place during a period of tension.

01:14This is due to the attacks carried out by the United States against small vessels,

01:19which it allegedly links to drug trafficking.

01:22The United States has not presented sufficient evidence to convince the CELAC participating countries that this is a reality.

01:28The Colombian government hopes that CELAC will issue a message of unity that defends the human rights of fishermen

01:34and proposes new alternatives to combat drug trafficking.

01:37The US recently placed Colombian President Gustavo Petro on a sanctions list aimed at countering drug trafficking.

01:46The Colombian government says it's unjust.

01:48Its foreign minister says Colombia has shown results in the fight against drugs.

01:52Never before has so much cocaine been seized on the high seas.

01:58A major recent seizure has led to the arrest of those involved, who have undergone legal proceedings.

02:08The seizure she refers to is the Colombian government's recent interception of seven tons of drugs at sea.

02:14The operation was carried out jointly with French authorities.

02:19For the fishermen of Santa Clara, they hope that diplomacy will help them continue to make a living from the sea in peace.

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