Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Friday said a proposed tax to
fund the country’s war against Marxist guerrillas and right-wing
paramilitaries will spare the lower and middle class.
The tax will have to come from the pockets of the most wealthy sectors of society, who are widely considered those who have benefited most from the government’s success in battling the FARC and ELN.
According to Uribe, the extra sacrifice of the rich will increase social understanding. “That is why I am asking the wealthier sectors to sacrifice, to contribute, so that in this time of economic difficulty they help us finance security.”
Uribe was forced to seek extra funds to finance the costly war against illegal armed groups, because the global financial crisis has slowed down foreign investment and tax revenue.