InfoBrief is a weekly news summary of events in the U.S. and Colombia produced and distributed by the U.S. Office on Colombia. Colombia This Week is reproduced with the kind permission of the ABColombia Group in London. Other sources include U.S. and Latin American newspapers, and reports from non-profit and grassroots groups. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Office on Colombia. If you would like to receive InfoBrief please contact jess_hunter@usofficeoncolombia.org indicating why you would be interested in this weekly news service. Previous editions of the InfoBrief can be found at www.usofficeoncolombia.org
U.S. Current Affairs and Media
Human Rights Report Outlines Significant Improvements and Serious Problems The State Department issued its annual “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” this week, outlining “significant improvements” in several human rights indicators in Colombia while also pointing to persisting “serious problems.” The report praised Colombian President Uribe’s advances in certain areas by citing Colombian government statistics which indicate that killings decreased 16 percent, massacres dropped by nearly 50 percent, kidnappings fell by 42 percent and forced displacements declined 37 percent in 2004. The report also pointed out that “impunity remained at the core of the country’s human rights problems.” The State Department indicated that members of Colombia’s security forces “continued to commit serious abuses” and Colombian human rights groups reported that the percentage of human rights abuses committed by the security forces increased in 2004. The report also describes continued collaboration between some members of the security forces and right-wing paramilitary groups responsible for “serious abuses.” “Such collaboration often facilitated unlawful killings and sometimes may have involved direct participation in paramilitary atrocities,” the report stated. Some human rights groups called into question the report’s stance on Colombia, suggesting that politics rather than real human rights improvements were behind the more positive report on Colombia this year. Washington Office on Latin America Deputy Director Kimberly Stanton noted that “political considerations are evident in some of the findings.” Carlos Mario Gómez of Amnesty International’s Mexico office suggested that the report took a soft stance on Colombia which is “quite possibly the country with the worst human rights crisis in the region today.” Read the State Department’s Human Rights Report on Colombia at:
U.N. and Human Rights Watch Concerned about Child Soldiers in Colombia The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday discussed the Secretary General's Report on Children and Armed Conflict, which names Colombia as a country in which armed groups employ child soldiers. The report condemns their use and other crimes against children in war zones. The Security Council called on governments to hold perpetrators accountable. Human Rights Watch indicated that Colombia's armed groups are among the worst violators of international norms against the recruitment and use of child soldiers and called on the Colombian government to ratify and implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations treaty prohibiting child soldiering. “These horrific practices are causing immeasurable damage to Colombia's children, and to Colombian society as a whole,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director for the New York-based group. A 2003 Human Rights Watch report estimated that more than 11,000 children fight in Colombia's armed conflict, one of the highest totals in the world. The group reports that at least one of every four irregular combatants in Colombia is under 18 years of age, including at least 20 to 30 percent of all FARC combatants. Estimates suggest that approximately 80 percent of child combatants in Colombia belong to one of the two left-wing guerrilla groups, the FARC or ELN “The FARC have shown no willingness to stop harming and exploiting children,” said Vivanco. “To the contrary, their abuses seem to have worsened.” Read the Report of the Secretary General to the Security Council: Read the Human Rights Watch report:
Bogotá’s Foreign Minister Sees Diminishing Role for U.S. Aid in Two Years In an interview on Tuesday, Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco said she envisions a diminishing role for U.S. security assistance in as few as two years as the Colombian economy is growing fast enough to fund the fight against insurgents and drugs. “Year after year Colombia is stronger and can stay the course by itself,” said Barco. “We do not want to become dependent on (U.S.) support. But to reach the level of strength and control, we need them to stay the course with us a while longer.” According to U.S. Embassy spokesman Jim Foster the U.S. “anticipates maintaining assistance levels roughly where they are.” Michael Shifter, vice president of the Inter-American Dialogue feels Barco’s timeline is optimistic. He suggested that Colombia will need U.S. assistance for another six years. Barco’s comments came after a wave of rebel attacks over the past two months has shattered the notion that Colombia's main rebel group is on the verge of collapse. Many analysts have suggested that the high level of rebel activity signifies the end of the rebels retreat, brought on by the hard-line tactics of Colombian President Uribe. On Monday Uribe acknowledged the recent series of deadly rebel attacks that have left approximately 60 soldiers dead this month, indicating that the rebels “will not be easily defeated.” Nevertheless he vowed to prevail.
Colombian Rebel Leader and Cartel Boss Set for Extradition Reports from Bogotá on Friday confirmed that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe authorized the extradition of left-wing rebel leader Nayibe Rojas, known as “Sonia,” to the United States to face drug charges. U.S. officials said Rojas was indicted by a federal court in Washington in 2003 on charges of drug trafficking and supporting and facilitating illegal activities. She is accused of managing up to half of FARC’s total income from the drug trade. She will join rebel leader Ricardo Palmera, know as “Simon Trinidad,” who was extradited to the U.S. last year and is awaiting trial in Washington. On Wednesday Colombia’s Supreme Court authorized Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela’s extradition to the United States. President Uribe is soon expected to sign his extradition order. Rodriguez Orejuela, along with his brother Gilberto—extradited to the U.S. in December—helped found the Cali drug cartel. President Uribe has extradited some 200 suspected drug traffickers to the US since he took office in August 2002.
Upcoming Events and Seminars in the U.S.
On March 11-14, 2005, the Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice will hold its annual gathering in Washington, D.C., addressing urgent global issues such as peaceful solutions to conflicts and the need for aid, debt and trade policies that benefit impoverished people throughout the world. Colombia will be a focus of the Latin America track. For more information, please refer to or contact
Colombia This Week is reproduced with the kind permission of the ABColombia Group in London
Colombia This Week editing date: 02/28/05
Fri 18 – Patriot plan: army says dozens dead in Vista Hermosa; NGO office assaulted in Bogotá.
Colombian environmental NGO CENSAT-Friends of the Earth reports an assault in their offices in Bogota. According to the reports, masked armed men broke into the building stealing money, computers, valuable information and other equipment, putting at risk the work of the environmentalists across Colombia.
Colombian troops reportedly killed ‘at least 20 Marxist rebels’ in an offensive against cocaine labs in the southern jungles of Colombia over the past three weeks. Troops, backed by airplanes and helicopters, attacked cocaine infrastructure hidden around Vista Hermosa in the province of Meta, said Gen. Reinaldo Castellanos. Five soldiers have been killed and 14 wounded since "Operation Emperor" began 20 days ago, he said. No independent confirmation of Castellanos' death tolls was available, Reuters reports.
British Ambassador in Colombia Thomas Duggin signs an agreement with the Colombian Foundation Antonio Restrepo to run an anti-landmine project for $55 m pesos, (£12,400). The programme is due to be implemented in the municipality of San Vicente del Caguan, El Tiempo reports.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports some 1,200 afro-Colombians have fled their communities along the Bojayá River, fearing impending clashes between armed groups. Roughly 7,000 people live in the municipality of Bojayá, and some 5,000 of them could be at direct risk of displacement, according to the local authorities, UNHCR reports.
Sat 19 – Government demobilises captured AUC commander; US arms lobby wins contract.
Inhabitants of Mompox (Bolivar) are concerned after the Colombian authorities liberated José María Barrera, the AUC Commander of the so-called ‘Chepes group’. He was detained last October in a televised army operation, and according to the reports was liberated only two months later as part of the demobilisation of a local paramilitary group. El Tiempo reports how ‘Chepe’ Becerra, a retired army officer, still exercises military control in the area, and is protected by his own men while reportedly ‘negotiating’ in Santa Fe de Ralito.
Officials of the Colombian Defence Ministry report the government is planning to spend 234 thousand million pesos (£53 m) on new US-made Black Hawk helicopters to reinforce the Colombian armed forces. This arms deal was discussed by the Colombian congress last year amid accusations of corruption in the contracting process. The Colombian Air force has been recommending president Uribe to acquire more war planes despite the opposite opinion of the US authorities, El Tiempo reports.
The Inter-Ecclesial Justice and Peace Commission reports the killing of Rafael Enrique Prins Velázquez in the city of Magangué (Bolivar). Witnesses reported that the victim was killed by a masked gunman that escaped although there was a police post only 50 metres away.
Sun 20 – Six soldiers killed by land-mines; Top drug traffickers negotiating with government.
FARC members killed six Colombian soldiers in two separate bomb attacks, detonating a minefield and a house packed with explosives, the Colombian army reports. Members of the FARC’s 34 th front activated mines which killed four members of an army patrol in rural sector of Dabeiba (Antioquia). Other FARC fronts blew up a house filled with explosives and killed two other troops at the other end of the country in Meta province, the army said. This armed group also blew up an oil pipeline in Tolima province, Reuters reports.
Wilber ‘Jabon’ Varela and 13 other drug bosses in Valle del Cauca have offered information on the secret location of FARC commanders in exchange for favourable treatment from the United States and Colombian judicial authorities. According to unnamed government sources, President Uribe has authorised Senator Luis Elmer Arenas to negotiate with the envoys of the drug war-lords, El Pais reports.
The Colombian alliance Women’s Initiative for Peace urges the Colombian Congress and the government to prioritise ‘above all’ the right of the victims to the truth, justice and reparation in the debate to agree legislation to demobilise the paramilitary groups in Colombia, El Colombiano reports.
‘The number of speeches about poverty reduction is inversely proportional to the serious efforts being undertaken in Colombia to reduce it’, an editorial in El Tiempo reports. After decades talking about social justice, between 20 and 29 m Colombians are poor and they urge the government to modify a system that works against them. In a recent seminar about poverty in Colombia, Josá Leibovich from the National Planning Department said that half of the money that the government invests to fight poverty directly benefits the middle class and the rich, the editorial says.
Mon 21 – Cali : car bomb explodes outside RCN; Puracé officials resign after threats.
A car bomb exploded outside the offices of RCN Television and Radio in Cali, injuring a security guard and a sound engineer in the blast, which significantly damaged the facilities. Two suspects have been arrested and are being investigated in connection with the attack, RCN Radio reported. Authorities have not yet determined who is behind the explosion, but the Colombian army said rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) might be responsible, RCN reports.
Mayor of Puracé, (Cauca) Nelson Mazabuel resigns after reporting death threats made by members of the FARC. In support of the mayoral’s decision seven local councillors and other elected members of the municipality also resigned. The Governor of Cauca, Juan José Chaux, acknowledged the resignations but urged them to continue working despite the threats, El Espectador reports.
‘Colombia faces a hard road in its fight against leftist rebels’, President Uribe said after deadly attacks blacked out towns, shut down a highway, blew up a hotel and shattered notions that the nation's main insurgent group was on its knees. The weekend violence left nine people dead. ‘This is only the beginning of what is coming in the country against the Uribe regime,’ FARC commander Raul Reyes said in a written statement broadcast on Noticias Uno TV. Reyes said Uribe's plans to wipe out the rebels or force them to negotiate a peace deal will fail. "More than ever, our expert war combatants, located in every nook and cranny throughout the country ... will put an end to this policy," Reyes said.
Tues 22 – 11,000 child soldiers fight in Colombia’s armed conflict; 3 soldiers killed in Sucre.
Colombia’s armed groups are among the worst violators of international norms against the recruitment and use of child soldiers, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports, urging the Colombian government to ratify and implement the United Nations treaty prohibiting this practice. At least one of every four irregular combatants in Colombia is under 18 years of age and HRW calculates that more than 11,000 children are fighting in Colombia’s armed conflict, one of the highest totals in the world. All three of Colombia’s armed groups—the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the paramilitary groups—are singled out for censure in the reports.
Combat between the Colombian army and the FARC group in Sucre leaves three soldiers and one rebel dead. Army Colonel Rafael Colón reported that the rebels were setting up a roadblock between Ovejas and Sincelejo when the army patrol arrived, AFP reports.
More than 1000 Evangelical preachers meet in Bogota with President Uribe Velez in a hotel in Bogota. The meeting, called by the president of the Christian Union, Victor Velázquez, was due to review the facing the pastors in the exercise of their pastoral duties. Uribe Vélez is developing an increasingly close relationship with these groups, El Tiempo reports.
Weds 23 –Ingrid Betancourt: three years kidnapped; paras made ultimatum to the government.
Much of the French press remembers the third anniversary of the kidnapping of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Ms Betancourt, who holds dual Colombian-French nationality, was kidnapped by the FARC while campaigning in the south of the country. Nothing has been heard of her since a videotaped message was released by her captors in August 2003, The Guardian reports.
In a statement posted in their website, the main Colombian paramilitary commanders threaten to end peace talks with the government if Congress passes a law which could jail their leaders for long periods for human rights abuses. "If the long peace negotiations in Santa Fe de Ralito end up with Congress demanding a humiliating submission to justice, then we will stay hidden in the countryside to wage war and face death. The peace talks have never been at such a critical moment," they said.
A FARC deserter killed seven of his comrades before fleeing his clandestine camp in central Colombia, police reports. The 22-year-old immediately turned himself in to the police and directed them to the guerrilla camp, where police found the seven dead rebels. The authorities showed the corpses to journalists on Wednesday, Associated Press reports.
Speaking to the press, former co-Director of the Colombian Central Bank, Sergio Clavijo confirms that last December the Colombian government told the board of directors of the Central Bank it planned ‘to intervene to stem the fall of the dollar for the benefit of Colombian exporters but to the detriment of the Colombian people. He also said that the threat from the cabinet and the Colombian Congressmen was to declare ‘an economic emergency’ in the country, El Tiempo reports.
Thurs 24- Massacre in San José de Apartadó; negotiation-re-election are incompatible: Pastrana.
The Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado reports with great sadness the ‘infamous’ killing of seven members of the community, reportedly at the hands of a group of soldiers from the Colombian Army. According to the reports the bodies of four adults and three underage children were found in the settlement of La Resbalosa. Among the dead is Luis Eduardo Guerra, leader and legal representative of the Peace community.
Participating in a ‘Forum Against Terrorism’, in Bogotá, ex-president Andres Pastrana reports that it is incompatible to negotiate a peace deal with the paramilitary groups while at the same time the Colombian president is on electoral campaign, suggesting they could favour Uribe’s candidacy in the next elections. He also expressed doubts about the intentions of armed group that are launching political campaigns while maintaining the dissuasive power of their arms across Colombia, El Nuevo Siglo reports.
With the accompaniment of the French Ambassador in Colombia Camille Rohou and the Director of the UN office for human rights in Colombia, Michael Fruhling, the French-based NGO Lawyers without Borders opens an office in the city of Bogotá. This organisation has a special UN observer status and is launching its presence in Colombia as part of a broader justice campaign called “Defence of the Defence in Colombia”.
After the ultimatum from paramilitary commanders, the Colombian Government reiterates in a statement that it does not accept any pressure on Congress, the media or the executive branch, in relation to the Justice and Peace Bill, currently being discussed, reminding the armed group that if they decide to break off the current dialogues, ‘they have 5 days to abandon the concentration zone with guarantees for their safety’, SNE reports.
The Colombian Supreme Court has authorised the extradition of drug-trafficker Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela to the US. The Supreme Court also approved the extradition to the US of a suspected commander of the FARC group. The commander, Omaira Rojas, also known as Sonia, is believed to have run the FARC's finances in southern Colombia, but will also be prosecuted on drugs charges, the BBC reports.
Colombia This Week is a news summary produced and distributed by ABColombia Group. Sources include daily Colombian, US, European and Latin American newspapers, and reports from non-governmental organisations and the UN System. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the ABColombia Group.
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