| cheapbag214s |
|
|
| |
| Joined: 27 Jun 2013 |
| Posts: 20570 |
Read: 0 topics
Warns: 0/5
|
| Location: England |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
16 July 2013Last updated at 11:57 GMT Colombia profile
Colombia has significant natural resources and its diverse culture reflects the indigenous Indian, Spanish and African origins of its people.
But it has also been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict involving outlawed armed groups, drug cartels and gross violations of human rights, although since 2002, the country has made some progress towards improving security.
The fourth largest country in South America and one of the continent's most populous nations, Colombia has substantial oil reserves and is a major producer of gold, silver, emeralds, platinum and coal.
It also has a highly stratified society where the traditionally rich families of Spanish descent have benefited from this wealth to a far greater degree than the majority, mixed-race population. With few avenues for social mobility,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], this provided a natural constituency for left-wing insurgents.
However,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the lucrative returns from drugs and kidnapping came to dominate the rebels' agenda, and largely replaced ideological motivations. The conflict has dragged on for decades, and at one point the government effectively lost control of large swathes of Colombian territory to the rebels, especially in the north and east. |
|
