Politics and palliative care: Columbia

摘要

For as long as I can remember, the democratic Republic of Colombia has experienced martial struggles between government forces and' rebellious anti-government groups and criminal cartels. These groups, often underwritten by the lucrative illicit drug trade, have sustained decades of paramilitary action and armed conflict. Even today, although the skirmishes are reportedly fewer, the relatively high risk of terrorist activity means that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to many parts of Colombia. Nevertheless, the country upholds comparatively robust democratic institutions and has an expanding world economy based largely on its mineral and fossil fuel wealth.