Report on Human Rights and Violation of International Humanitarian Law in Colombia addressed to the President of Colombia Mr. Juan Manuel Santos, to the Minister of the Interior Juan Fernando Cristo, to Mr. Todd Howland United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – UN Human Rights , to Mr. Carlos Alfonso Negret Mosquera Defender of the People, to the organizations that defend human rights, to all the media and local, national and international public opinion.
From the Sub-Commission on Guarantees and Human Rights of the Peasant, Ethnic and Popular Agrarian Summit, we have shown that as a result of the Peace processes between the national government and the armed insurgencies of the ELN and the FARC-EP, a decrease in the effects on civilians, combatants and property derived from the internal armed conflict. However, the rates of socio-political violence against human rights defenders, leaders and social and popular leaders have been increasing.
The foregoing is aggravated by the confluence of factors such as: a. The presence and reconfiguration of the paramilitary phenomenon in the territories; b. The return to the regions of those who in the past were members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia [AUC] given their release due to a sentence served within the framework of the application of the so-called law of justice and peace; c. territorial conflicts due to the existence of megaprojects and economic interests; and d. The wave of political violence unleashed against those of us who defend the political solution to the Colombian armed conflict.
From January 1 to December 4, 2016, in our database we have registered the following effects against Human Rights Defenders who are members and leaders of peasant, indigenous, Afro-descendant, women, trade unionists, victims, students, youth organizations , diverse and civic neighborhood communities.
a) Homicides
In 2016 there have been ninety-four (94) homicides against Human Rights defenders. The highest figure in the last 6 years and 31 more than the previous year.
b) Attacks
We have registered forty-six (46) attacks, which were committed by groups of armed men (some in civilian clothes, others in black, camouflaged or covering their faces with ski masks). Those who move aboard motor vehicles (trucks or motorcycles) or on foot in rural areas or populated centers.
Long- and short-range firearms and / or explosive devices are used for its execution.
c) Threats
There have been 302 direct and indirect individual or collective threats (pamphlets, calls, votes, bouquets of flowers, slaughtered animal heads, and the offering of financial rewards for attempting against the lives of human rights defenders).
d) Violence against women
Cases have been presented where women have been victims of femicides, sexual violence and other forms of violence.
e) Enforced disappearances
There have been five cases of enforced disappearance against local and regional leaders in different areas of the country.
f) Arbitrary raids and theft of sensitive information.
Seven cases of arbitrary searches and / or theft of information have been reported against local and regional leaders in different areas of the country.
g) Military and Police repression of social mobilization
According to the “Minga Agraria, Ethnic and Popular 2016 Report” of the National Directorate for Attention and Complaints Processing of the Ombudsman’s Office, between May 30 and June 12, 2016, the period in which the Agrarian Minga was developed , ethnic and popular, 3 participants died, 80 were injured and 151 detained. According to the reports of the sub-commission, there were: 3 homicides, 181 were wounded, 151 detained, 20 attacks and 12 death threats were presented.
h) The impunity of the acts committed against Human Rights defenders by psychic members of the Public Force and paramilitary groups.
A factor of denial systematicity, re-victimization and legitimization of violence in Colombia, is generated from the statements by some public officials and members of the public force, with actions of delegitimization of the victims by pointing out and emphasizing the Presumably he did not belong to social and political organizations, to expose possible judicial antecedents and to point out factors external to the political persecution as motives.
Characterization of Paramilitarism in Colombia in 2016
Paramilitary action in the national territory stands as the main threat to the peace process between the armed insurgency of the FARC-EP and the national government and the dialogues with the insurgency of the ELN, which eventually begin in their public phase in the coming days. .
So far in 2016, from the Sub-Commission on Guarantees and Human Rights of the Peasant, Ethnic and Popular Agrarian Summit, we have registered the presence of at least 13 Paramilitary groups that call themselves:
“United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia – AUC”
“Peasant Self-Defense Forces Eastern Bloc Meta Vichada and Guaviare”
“Self-defense of Norte de Santander”
“New generation”
“New order”
“New Renacer AUC”
“Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia”
“Clan del Golfo”
“The Urabeños”
“Clan Usuga”
“The Rastrojos”
“Anti-Land Restitution Army”
“Black Eagles”
Which have developed military actions in wide regions of the national territory, corresponding to 22 departments, the Capital District and 162 municipalities.
Each of the aforementioned actions constitute criminal and disciplinary types that, although they must be investigated and punished to date, remain in impunity, despite the fact that they have been publicly denounced and legal and political actions have been taken to demand guarantees; However, the situation continues and increases, calling into question the existence of true guarantees for the exercise of the opposition and political participation in Colombia.