Fri 9 –UN reports 19,000 indigenous displaced so far this year due to impact of conflict
·According to a report by the UNHCR, 19,000 indigenous were displaced this year due to the armed conflict in Colombia, and more than one million were negatively affected by the conflict. The spokesperson for the UN agency said that entire indigenous communities might disappear after being displaced. The report came after a study from the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia (ONIC) showed that more than 80 indigenous groups are at risk, including the Nasa, the Embera and the Quechua, who were forced to leave the department of Putumayo and flee to Ecuador. The study represents an historic landmark as figures about the impact of the Colombian conflict on the indigenous population were published for the first time. Violations of indigenous rights are rarely investigated, but it is estimated that in the last 20 years, 1,600 indigenous have been killed, EFE reports.
Sat 10–Armed forces occupy humanitarian zone; US Congress queries results of Plan Colombia
·The Community Council of Jiguamiando reports that two national officials arrived in the Humanitarian Zone of Jiguamiando in a military helicopter on 9 December, totally disrespecting the provisional measures adopted by the Interamerican Court of Human Rights in March 2005. Subsequently, several army units camped in the area, despite this being private property. There are serious fears that due to illegal occupation, the Afro-Colombian communities might be displaced. Despite the government’s commitment before the Interamerican Court of Human Rights to respect Afrodescendents’ private property, this is not the first occupation of this kind. The Agriculture Minister Andres Felipe Arias also recently stated that 15,000 hectares of the collective land of the Afrodescendants were property of private companies and could therefore be used to grow African palm.
·The US Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of the US Congress, states that the increase in the price of cocaine is not a direct result of Plan Colombia, as suggested by the Bush administration. The GAO said the figures would suggest an improvement in policing measures rather than a drop in the substance’s supply and clarified that the numbers of US cocaine consumers has remained stable at 2 million, Miami Herald reports.
·1,300,000 signatures are presented to the Electoral Council by Senator Jimmy Chamorro, calling for a referendum on the reelection of mayors and governors. The Electoral Council accepted the petition which will allow mayors such as Fajardo and Garzon to run for the Presidency of the Republic without losing their jobs, but this will now have to receive support from President Uribe and subsequently from Congress, El Tiempo reports.
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Sun 11 – Polls predict Uribe’s reelection; corruption in the Congressional elections
·According to a Gallup poll, 66.5% of Colombians will cast their vote for President Uribe in the May 2006 elections. The second favourite, the liberal candidate Horacio Serpa, is expected to get only 13.9% of the votes. The survey also showed that for 76.4% of the population poverty is one of the main concerns, alongside corruption and unemployment, El Colombiano reports.
·Colombian electoral authorities state that they have no capacity to investigate any misuse of funds and corruption in the forthcoming electoral campaign for Congress. The National Electoral Council is still busy investigating the 2003 elections, but on the eve of the 2006 electoral campaign the situation is already worrying, with votes being bought for 50,000 pesos in Barranquilla. It is estimated that about 2,500 candidates will use 900,000 million pesos whose origin will be impossible to trace. Magistrates from the Electoral Council complained of a lack of independence, scarce human and financial resources and no support from the government, El Tiempo reports.
Mon 12 – OMCT condemns massacre in Curumani; paramilitaries demand seats in Congress
·The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expresses concerns for the security of civilians in Colombia, after the massacre of 22 peasants in Curumani, department of Cesar. The statement came after the Colombian human rights organisation Minga reported that between 4 and 7 December 200 men, allegedly paramilitaries, entered the area without facing any opposition by the armed forces, detaining, torturing and subsequently killing some 22 peasants. The Governor of Cesar, Hernando Molina Araujo stated that in the incident only six people were killed following a combat between the FARC and the paramilitaries. The OMCT is calling upon the Colombian government to carry out an investigation to make sure that those responsible are prosecuted, CODHES reports.
·The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) express their desire to obtain two Congressional seats in return for laying down weapons. The Government has not responded to the request yet; however, it would be very difficult for it to justify the concession, as the AUC are branded as a narco-terrorist organisation by the USA, Colombia’s major donor. The request is particularly unusual as all Congressional seats in Colombia are elected, apart from a few put aside for representatives of indigenous and black minorities, Reuters reports.
·The UN Human Rights Office in Colombia condemns the murder of Jaime Lozada Perdomo, ex senator and ex Governor of Huila, perpetrated on 3 December, noting that such crimes threaten the electoral process. According to the authorities, the FARC, the armed group that has kidnapped Mr Lozada’s wife, is responsible for the killing. The UN Office called upon the FARC to immediately release Mrs Lozada and all other kidnap victims, and to abide by humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians.
Tues 13 – Hostages’ families approve steps towards exchange; peace talks with ELN in Cuba
·The families of those kidnapped by the FARC express their appreciation to President Alvaro Uribe for having accepted the proposal for a humanitarian agreement made by France, Spain and Switzerland. However, Alfredo Rangel, analyst at the Security and Democracy think-tank in Bogota, suggested that the FARC response is unlikely to be positive, as in order to go ahead with any exchange they will insist on de-militarising the municipalities of Pradera and Florida, in the Valle department, Radio Caracol reports.
·Members of the ELN guerrilla group arrive in Havana to hold preliminary peace talks with the Colombian government. The leader of the armed group, Francisco Galan, who is serving a 30 year sentence for rebellion, terrorism and kidnapping, has been allowed to leave jail to attend the talks. He expressed his optimism about what he considers to be a big step in the search for peace. However, a similar attempt in Cuba two years ago collapsed after failure to agree on a framework for negotiations. The Colombian government delegation will be led by the High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo, and diplomats from Spain, Norway and Sweden are also expected to attend, BBC reports.
·The Colombian House of Representatives finally approves the “forestry law”, after 11 unsuccessful earlier attempts, which will allow massive exploitation of Colombian forests, according to Colombian NGO Censat. The law was strongly opposed by wide sectors of Colombian society, including the Inspector General’s office, the Auditor’s Office, former Environment ministers and by indigenous, afrocolombian and peasant organisations. These groups see the measure as a threat to the country’s biological and cultural heritage, and as a victory for big logging companies, Colombian NGO Censat reports.
·2000 members of the Central Bolivar paramilitary block demobilise in Segovia, in a ceremony attended by OAS representatives and the High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo. The leaders of the group, Carlos Jimenez alias ‘Macaco’, who is wanted by Washington for drug trafficking, and Ivan Roberto Duque, alias Ernesto Baez, were among the demobilised. The Colombian authorities have reassured them that they will not be extradited, as long as they comply with the conditions set out in the Justice and Peace Law, BBC reports.
Weds 14 –Govmt admits para involvement in Curumani; Cacique Pipinta block to demobilise
·After hearing the testimonies of witnesses and victims’ relatives, Carlos Franco, director of human rights for the Colombian Presidency, says the massacre in Curumani represents a possible violation of the ceasefire by the AUC paramilitary forces. He stated that this could have repercussions on the negotiation process between the government and the paramilitary group. No clarification on the numbers of dead has yet been made, with reports varying between five to 22 civilian victims, El Tiempo and AFP report.
·200 members of the Cacique Pipinta paramilitary block, linked to the Central Bolivar block, fail to demoblise on the date agreed. However, a delegate from the office of the High Commissioner for Peace said the process would still go ahead, with 500 paramilitaries taking part in the demobilisation ceremony, El Tiempo reports.
·More than 1,500 bullets are found in an ambulance, camouflaged in boxes full of toys, in Argelia, in the department of Cauca. Police commander General Jacinto Mesa Contrera said that this represented a clear violation of international humanitarian law, claiming that the ammunition was destined to reach the FARC base in the area. Three people were detained and are being investigated to establish where the material was coming from, Radio Caracol reports.
Thurs 15 – Lula and Uribe in trade talks; mines destroyed in Cartagena
·The Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva declares that Brazil is a strong ally of Colombia, during a visit to Bogota to strengthen trade and political links between the two countries. The agenda of the meeting included talks to discuss the contruction of a highway that will connect Brazil to the Pacific Ocean, concerted efforts in the war against drug and arms trafficking, and trade relationships between the Andean Community and Mercosur. An official communique also mentioned Brazil’s possible involvement in a peace mission in Colombia, AP reports.
·Vicepresident Francisco Santos participates in the first ever process of mine-clearing in Colombia. The event took place in the Mamonal field in Cartagena and was conducted according to the international standards set out by the Ottawa Convention and under the supervision of the OAS. Colombia has currently the third highest number of mines, after Chechnia and Afghanistan, and an average of 3 people are affected daily. 40% of the victims are children, El Heraldo reports.
·One year after the demobilisation of the AUC Catatumbo block, their assets still have not been returned to the victims and their families. It has not been made clear yet which authority is in charge of returning the assets, despite the High Commissioner for Peace having already received 105 real estates, 58 properties, 10 boats and 45 mules from the Catatumbo block, Colprensa reports.
·The Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado expresses its concern about new threats against the population. Members of the community were approached by paramilitaries who warned them of an imminent massacre, Amnesty International 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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