Western Hemisphere 111
12, Venezuela filed a counter-protest to Colombia about mistreatment of a diplomat
in Guainia. In that incident, a Venezuelan consulate’s car was stoned by Colombian
citizens while Colombian police apparently watched. On August 14, Venezuelan heli-
copters fired on Colombian vehicles in the border town of San Antonio del Tachira.
Foreign ministers from both countries agreed to investigate these incidents in order to
prevent them from occurring again.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 16, 1988. End Date changed from
August 16, 1988. Settlement changed from None. Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#4219
Dispute Number: 4219
Date(s): January 7, 1994 to January 9, 1994
Participants: 101 Venezuela/100 Colombia
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On January 7, 1994, a Venezuelan military helicopter landed in Colombia,
and Venezuelan soldiers captured seven Colombian fishermen, whom they believed to
be guerrillas. The helicopter was then overloaded and crashed in Colombian territory,
forcing the Venezuelans to release many of the fishermen. All seven Colombians were
released by January 10. Colombia sent troops to the site to try to prevent Venezuela
from returning and removing the helicopter’s wreckage.
MID#4009
Dispute Number: 4009
Date(s): October 8, 1995 to October 1995
Participants: 101 Venezuela/100 Colombia
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes a series of incidents across the Venezuelan-Colom-
bian border as both countries dealt with drug trafficking and guerrillas funded by
that trafficking. On October 8, 1995, Venezuelan troops flew into Colombia on four
helicopters and arrested five Colombians suspected of growing poppies in the Sierra
de Perija border region. That same month Venezuelan troops entered Colombia and
decapitated a farmer and harassed nine others; Venezuela claimed that its incursion
was the result of “hot pursuit” of rebels and that the farmers grew poppies. Colombian
President Ernesto Samper protested, arguing that the presence of Venezuelan troops
on Colombian soil would never be acceptable. Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera
responded by criticizing Colombia for failing to secure its border to prevent Colom-
bian drug traffickers from raiding Venezuelan territory. On October 25, Colombia pre-
sented Venezuela with a formal note of protest; Venezuela dismissed the note, arguing
that Colombia had failed to combat the poppy farmers. Colombia and Venezuela
engaged in discussions in 1996, and then, on February 28, 1997, both countries agreed
to create a bilateral verification mission to investigate border incidents.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from Missing.