Individuals at Risk

While Colombian military forces rescued 15 hostages last week from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), paramilitary forces associated with the same government continue to be guilty of similar abductions, death threats and harassment.

The Colombian government alleges that the paramilitary forces are in a demobilization process; however, their continued human rights violations clearly show that paramilitary groups remain extremely active. Amnesty International has released six Urgent Actions in the past month alone based around armed forces and paramilitary forces in Colombia, a country that for the past 40 years has been entrenched in internal conflict.

While FARC surely poses a threat to Colombian stability, they are not the only guilty party. Amnesty International released an Urgent Action July 8 on behalf of two men kidnapped and two others killed by the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Nariño (Autodefensas Campesinas de Nariño, ACN) in the hamlet of San José de la Turbia, in Olaya Herrera Municipality. Peasants in the village are fleeing their homes as a result of the increasing paramilitary violence. The ACN claimed to be working with the Colombian navy.

Paramilitary groups, who the Colombian government claims are demobilizing, are causing widespread fear in a country already ravaged by conflict. Last month, the paramilitary group United Black Eagles of Colombia (Águilas Negras Unidas de Colombia) threatened the lives of trade unionists and human rights defenders because the paramilitary group falsely believes these activists are involved in guerilla activity. The Black Eagles also threatened the lives of members of a pacifist youth group. Another paramilitary group, the United Self-Defense groups of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) threatened to kill journalists working at a Colombian radio station after the broadcasters participated in a pro-human rights forum.

The presence of the various paramilitary groups in Colombia is representative of the violence and devastation occurring in the war-torn country. In 2005, the U.S. contributed $600 million towards Colombian military aid. Unfortunately, paramilitary forces may receive assistance from this Colombian military aid. Moreover, the number of internally displaced people in Colombia (2 million - 4 million) rivals only that of Sudan (6 million), according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

With peaceful Colombians constantly at risk of abduction and others who have already disappeared, it is of dire necessity that action be taken. Please reference UA 167/08, UA 179/08, UA 180/08, UA 186/08, UA 188/08 and UA 196/08.

Chelsea Toy - Urgent Action Network