Impunity Watch: South America

BRIEF: Colombian Drug Lord Killed; Drug Trafficking Heads to Europe

BOGOTA, Colombia – A raid on Tuesday in northern Colombia resulted in the death of Victor Manuel Mejia, a drug trafficker and member of far-right paramilitaries.  At first Colombian officials announced that police killed Miguel Angel Mejia, “the most wanted of all the criminals.”  However, it was later found that Miguel’s brother, Victor was the one shot down.

The brothers, called the “Twins”, have been on the run since paramilitary warlords were required to hand themselves in.  The United States had offered large rewards for the capture of each one. 

Three others were killed in the raid, and three were arrested.  The Mejia brothers were leaders of narcotics traffickers and the Colombian Defense Minister calls this raid “a great strike of the Public Force against the criminal structures of the country.”

Drug trafficking is the basis of much of the corruption and violence in Colombia.  This is progress that Colombia needs to ensure the safety of its citizens.  However, the United States has studies that show much of the cocaine market is moving to Europe, while American use has decreased.  The United State blames the rerouting on Venezuela; however, Colombia still has much work to do.

For more information, please see:
USA Today – Cocaine routes shift from U.S. to Europe – 28 April 2008
AP – Colombia says major drug lord killed – 29 April 2008
CNN – Wanted Colombia drug lord killed – 30 April 2008

LGBTA: Lack of Tolerance and Institutionalized Discrimination Plagues some Latin American Countries

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

The tolerance in South American countries towards Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender issues has been questioned over the years.

In the Colombian city of Manizales, the administration of the Leonardo da Vinci public school dismissed from the school two female adolescents after they had made public the fact of being Lesbians. The two students won a judicial proceeding that sustained their right to education, the right not to be discriminated against and respected their sexual preference. The administration of the school was reluctant to accept the judgment, and the 300 student body received the girls protesting the holding and voicing that they two students were not welcomed to the school. 

The case of Manizales is not isolated. The coach of the Colombian Professional Soccer team announced that there was no space in his team for Gay men. In the city of Cali, a neighborhood is full of postings of hate against transvestites, announcing that transvestites would be killed in that area, and in fact victims have been found stabbed to death. In the city of Barranquilla, a police officer unilaterally shot to death to transvestites, and was convicted in the charges of double homicide.

In Chile, the Highest Court ruled against a religion teacher, forbidding her and any other lesbian from teaching in public education sorely on their sexual preferences. Ruling which led to manifestations against the close connection between the Catholic Church and the court and the deviation from the Chilean Constitution.  Chilean media has also diminished coverage of the story. Following the holding, a case has been filed before the Inter-American Human Rights Court, against Chile for depriving individuals from rights protected by international instruments.

In Peru, a University Professor and journalist announced to the media how she was asked to resign her faculty position, after the families of her students expressed concern about her blog and publications. Although she does not teach sexuality, she accused the University San Martin de Porres of discriminating against her for her sexual preferences. Days after, the administration announced it was only a misunderstanding.

Uruguay was the first country in South America to permit Civil Unions for gay couples; the legislation was approved in December, and resulted in the first civil union last month. The new law grants cohabiting couples who have lived together for more than five years the same rights as straight married couples; referring to "two people — of any sex, identity, orientation or sexual option — who maintain an emotional relationship sexual in nature, that is exclusive, stable and permanent, without being united in matrimony."

The civil union provides some rights, but same-sex marriage will remain illegal in Uruguay. This ban complicates litigation in issues of adoption, pensions and inheritance. Only the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil had passed a similar law, as well as the City of Buenos Aires in Argentina. No other country as a whole has taken such an initiative.

The City of Buenos Aires in Argentina has approved May 17 as a day of awareness against the discrimination for sexual orientation. During that day the city attempts to support any choice of sexual orientation among the minors. The date was chosen because it was the day in which the International Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. The Catholic Church in Argentina has nourished a movement of protest, and lobby to the city governor to ban such an undertaking.

Although some regions have taken steps to foster tolerance, others have failed to institutionalize such culture.  South America is full of cases involving intromission of the church in state matters, abuse of authority, and due process violations that cause the segregation of LGBT and other minorities from essential civil and political rights. Hate crimes in South America drive assassinations, deprivation of education, social exclusion, and discrimination at the work place among others.

For more information, please see:

Pink News - Uruguay's first gay union, four months after they became legal – 21 April 2008

Magazine - Crímenes de odio a minorías sexuales en Colombia – 29 April 2008

Magazine - Chile: protestaron contra la Corte por el fallo contra la profesora lesbiana – 25 April 2008

Aica Online – Reclaman vetar una ley que promueve la homosexualidad en las escuelas – 23 April 2008

RPP - Profesora lesbiana denuncia intento de discriminación en universidad – 10 April 2008

Peru.com - Universidad San Martín afirma que nunca sancionó a una profesora lesbiana – 14 April 2008

El Tiempo - Mal Ejemplo en Manizales – 28 April 2008

Key Witness in Paramilitary Scandal Threatened

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BOGOTA, Colombia – In the midst of the scandal surrounding the Colombian congressmen’s involvement with paramilitary death squads, 32 former Congressmen have been imprisoned while more than 60 have been implicated.  Most recently and importantly, President Uribe’s cousin and close political ally was imprisoned last week due to allegations regarding paramilitary support.

Jairo Castillo Peralta, 40, is an exiled ex-paramilitary Colombian member of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) living in Canada with political asylum.  He has accused Mario Uribe of having ties to the paramilitary and according to AP claims he has “intimate knowledge of meetings between politicians and paramilitaries in which politicians asked for help obtaining ranches cheaply.”  He is a key witness for the cases in Colombia.

Investigators have determined through analysis of intelligence that two hit men posing as tourists were trying to kill Jairo Castillo Peralta.  The attorney general’s office faxed him a warning.  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police as well as the Supreme Court have been notified of the situation.  Jairo Castillo Peralta is living in fear of his life and has been warned to take precautions.

The presence of these assassins shows that according to the Washington Post, “no one is out of the[se mafias] reach when the goal is to protect their interests.”  An assassination of key witnesses like Jairo Castillo Peralta would seriously impair justice and shows the corruption and inability to effectively charge and try powerful government leaders in Colombia.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post – Plot to Kill Colombian Witness Exposed – 26 April 2008

AP – Exiled Witness in Colombian paramilitary scandal threatened – 26 April 2008

AFP- Contract killers sent to Quebec to kill Colombian witness: report – 27 April 2008

Due Process Unquestioned: Elite Police Raid in Rio Left 11 Death

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – At least 11 civilians were killed by the 150-men strong Police force during Friday’s raid.  A low privileged Rio de Janeiro neighborhood, Cidade de Deus (The City of God), recognized from the 2002 film was the scenery of the killings.

Human-rights groups and dwellers denounced the frequency of the raids, and the collateral damage caused. The police acted on a tip, that cartels running away from last month’s raid in Vila Cruzeiro were taking refuge in Cidade de Deus; the attack in Cruzeiro left 16 deaths and the area was taken and patrolled by the police since.

The later raid killed a 70-year-old woman, and left two elderly women injured by lost bullets. No police officers were wounded or killed during the "routine raid". The Police announced that the elder woman was not involved in the trafficking but that everyone else was, including a drug lord, Jorge Ferreira. (Photo:  Ricardo Fasanello/Strana)

Police said that weapons, radios and drugs were seized in the raid as officers sought to "permanently occupy" various crime-plagued areas; there is also a helicopter patrolling and all the entrances to the area were taken by police force.

The Elite police group BOPE (Military Police Special Operation Battalion) leaded the attack. This group was subject of the movie Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad), which tells the story of 12 ex-members. The group is accused for indiscriminate violence in the hillside deprived areas of the city; their unofficial motto is "We kill to make a better world."

In these forgotten neighborhoods, continuous gunfights between the police and the gangs; or among the gangs themselves leave hundreds killed every year. Rio police are notorious for rough tactics against drug gangs that control many of the city's shantytowns

The owner of the house were the attack took place demanded a lack of due process, no warrant was presented and no consent was given for the police break-in. Officials did not respond to the accusations.

Rio is one of the world's most violent cities, an annual murder rate of about 50 per 100,000. A record 1,260 civilians died in clashes with police in Rio de Janeiro state last year, according to a report by the state's Institute of Public Safety.

For more information, please see: 

Reuters - Brazil police kill 11 in Rio de Janeiro slum raid – 26 April 2008

The Earthtimes - At least 11 die as police raid slum in Rio de Janeiro – 26 April 2008

International Herald Tribune - Brazil police search for drug lord after slum raid kills 11 – 26 April 2008

Folha Online - Onze morrem em operação do Bope na Cidade de Deus - 25 April 2008

O GLobo - Cerca de 150 policiais militares fazem operação contra o tráfico na Cidade de Deus – 25 April 2008

Colombian President Accused and Investigated; One of Many Officials Under Suspicion

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BOGOTA, Colombia – Right-wing President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has been accused by a former member of the paramilitary of planning a 1997 massacre at Aro.  The massacre resulted in 15 peasants’ deaths while Uribe was governor of that province.

The investigation comes only a few days after Uribe’s cousin and close political ally Mario Uribe was accused and refused political asylum by Costa Rica.  Former Senator Uribe was arrested.

Mario Uribe’s arrest brought the number of accused Congressmen to more than 30.  In addition, 60 more politicians are under investigation, including president of the legislature Nancy Gutierrez and now, President Uribe.

President Uribe denies the accusations, and called the paramilitary member who alleged them “a disgruntled convict with an axe to grind.”  The president has also expressed his dissatisfaction with justice officials who may be politically motivated to follow up on allegations against “honourable people.”

President Uribe has been highlighting how his government has defeated paramilitaries, especially leftist rebels.  However, during this scandal, Congress has been rendered practically powerless with so many people under arrest, resigning, or under investigation.  It has been suggested that new elections may be the only way to replace all the members fairly.

The investigations began in 2006 when, due to a peace deal with President Uribes, paramilitary members began testifying.

The accusations against Alvaro Uribe will halt negotiations for the Colombia-U.S. free-trade pact, which were already slow-moving in the United State Congress.

For more information, please see:
Canwest News Service – Leader accused of planning massacre – 25 April 2008
Miami Herald – Ties may bind Colombian president to death squads – 25 April 2008
Costa Rica Pages- Costa Rica Denies Political Asylum to Mario Uribe – 22 April 2008-04-25
CNN – Uribe’s headache: Politicians accused of ties to rebels – 23 April 2008
Mathaba News Network – Costa Rican President: Denying asylum to cousin of Colombian president sovereign issue – 25 April 2008
Reuters – Deepening Colombia scandal puts Uribe on defensive – 23 April 2003

Bolivian Indigenous Initiatives Spiked Referendum for Regional Independence

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LA PAZ, Bolivia– The poorest country in South America, victim of institutional discrimination against the indigenous descendants, in addition to great concentration of wealth, power and land in hands of a few, confronts a new challenge.

Bolivian President, Evo Morales, is the first stable president in the last decade, he was democratically elected, representing the indigenous majority of the Country. Attempting to cure the inequality created by discrimination against the indigenous, Morales has initiated a new constitutional referendum.

The country had to hold the referendum on the draft constitution next month- which grants more rights to the indigenous majority - but it has been postponed by the National Electoral Court, which announced that there was not enough time to prepare for the votes.

The minorities of the country, landowners, mixed raced and whites, oppose the new constitution. The opponents say it would unfairly privilege indigenous groups over the rest of the population.

In response to the new constitution, the richest areas of the country have initiated movements for independence ending ties with the left-wing government of La Paz. The autonomy referendum would take the country into political disintegration, unrest and probably, violence.

The Referendum is due for May 4, and its organized by the region of Santa Cruz, which has rich farm land and natural gas reserves. Such referendum could make it impossible for Morales to govern. Four of Bolivia's nine provinces want greater autonomy, these are all home to most of the country's oil and gas reserves.

The leaders of Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and the Cuban vice-president denounced the move as an illegal attempt to destabilize the country, during an ALBA last minute conference in Caracas.  The meeting had brought together some of Mr Morales's closest left-wing allies - the presidents of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, and Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, as well as Cuba's Vice-President, Carlos Lage. 

The four leaders said they will not recognize the fertile, gas-rich region as an autonomous entity, and priority is given to the unity of the democratic nation of Bolivia and the initiatives of its government towards the protection of the neglected  indigenous population. Morales says the vote is illegal and nonbinding, it is motivated by racism and greed among large landholders, who feel threatened by his plans to redistribute land.

Morales says the push for autonomy is no more than an attempt by the rich minority to keep their long-held privileges, and to undermine his policies of helping the poor indigenous majority.

"And if we look at history, we see that there have always been demands for federalism when the rich minority have lost control of central government, but then when they get it back again, they forget all about autonomy."

The South American countries are very concerned with these developments, is a matter of time before it turns into violence and further discrimination and hate among the classes. In view of the circumstances, the Roman Catholic Church and the Organization of American States have urged the government and opposition to engage in talks.

For more information, please see:

BBC - LatAm leaders reject Bolivia bid - 24 April 2008

Reuters - REFILE-ANALYSIS-Bolivian vote could spark grave political crisis – 23 April 2008

Los Tiempos - El ALBA se une contra consulta cruceña, la oposición ve injerencia - 24 April 2008

BolPres - Llaman a defender la democracia popular y la unidad de Bolivia en bien de la estabilidad política de toda la región - 24 April 2008

Prosecutors Order Arrest of Former Colombian Senator

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BOGOTA, Colombia – Former Senator Mario Uribe has been accused of criminal conspiracy, and Colombia’s chief prosecutor has ordered his arrest.  Uribe, cousin and close ally to conservative President Alvaro Uribe, allegedly requested campaign support from paramilitary groups and agreed to promote the illegal armed groups. 

According to the attorney general’s statement, “Uribe is being investigated for a meeting he had with former paramilitary commander Salvatore Mancuso before the elections of Match 10, 2002, and with Jairo Castillo Peralta… in November 1998.”  This allegation came directly from Mancuso, who is currently in Colombian prison.

Uribe resigned from the Senate in October 2007 to avoid investigations by the Supreme Court.  Although Uribe maintains his innocence, he is also seeking political asylum from the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota on the grounds that he lacks adequate procedural guarantees in Colombia.  (Photo: TribunaLatina.com)

Uribe’s arrest will total 33 lawmakers detained in the scandalous paramilitary death squad ties.  The investigations are over ties to the United Self-defence Forces of Colombia (AUC).  According to Associated Press, Uribe “is one of the most powerful officials yet enmeshed in the scandal.”

Political analysts predict that these investigations may affect public’s opinion of President Uribe.  Currently he remains popular for his military approach to leftist rebels within the country.  He demobilized many paramilitary troops by exchanging reduced jail terms for leaders’ promises of confessions and compensation.  However, since his key political allies have been tied to death squads, the scandal may impact the President’s reputation.

For more information, please see:

AP – Colombia prosecutor orders arrest President Uribe’s cousin – 22 April 2008
Reuters – Uribe’s cousin seeks asylum amid Colombia probe – 22 April 2008
Bloomberg – Colombia’s Mario Uribe Asks for Asylum After Arrest – 22 April 2008
BBC News – Colombia orders Uribe ally arrest – 22 April 2008

New President Brings Hope Against a Reign of Impunity and Corruption

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay–  An ideal of change and distribution of wealth drove the people into the streets for a long night of celebrations upon the elections results. Skip to next paragraphFernando Lugo, the Red Bishop, or the Bishop of the poor, was elected president of Paraguay on Sunday; bringing to an end the 61 year one-party rule that carried the country into decades of human rights abuses and inequality. (Photo AP)

The National Republican Association, known as the Colorado Party, was the government itself which built a political apparatus that concentrated power into the party members; while it also looked fairly fair and democratic to the outside world. The party was the largest employer of the nation, and worked sorely to keep the dictator, General Stroessner, in power for 35 years. General Stroessner was finally ousted in 1989, but the Colorado Party remained.

During power, the general amassed one of the worst human rights records in the hemisphere, with thousands of political arrests and numerous documented cases of torture and disappearances. Removing the dictator without doing away with the party left a psychological attachment to authoritarian rule.                        

Amnesty International has requested the new president to adopt measures to prosecute those responsible and to build a culture of respect towards human rights. The plan proposed by Amnesty highlights the crimes from the past dictatorship, torture, poverty, deprivation of access to justice and the courts, as well as discrimination against women and indigenous communities.

Mr. Lugo made sure to attack the status quo, its corruption and made a platform focused on Paraguay’s deep poverty. Now 33 percent of the population of 6.7 million. This victory is anew turning point, destroying one of the last leftovers from the authoritarian regimes that made Latin America bleed during the 70's and 80's.

As the new president, he also promises agrarian reform and said he will take steps to ease the plight of 300,000 landless peasant families who work in cotton and soybean fields at paltry wages for rich landowners; as well as helping the indigenous, whom during campaigning, told him they often go hungry.

As pointed out by the New York Times, the extent of the change is yet to be seen. Mr. Lugo, 56, defeated Blanca Ovelar de Duarte of the Colorado Party by 10 percentage points, 41 percent to 31 percent.

The Unites States officials have voiced some concern. Paraguay has a great population of Arab descendants, and has been linked as a bridge for drugs and weapons, the U.S. officials have said "We have dropped the ball yet again in Latin America, and Chavez, flush with oil money, has picked it up." Mr. Lugo embraces Venezuela’s 21st Century Socialism, as part of the 60’s priesthood he has also been influenced by the Marxist theory of Liberation. Mr. Lugo denies to have been funded by Chavez and promises to strengthen South American unity and equality.

Associate Press describes that the “Latin America's leftward tilt began with the arrival of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez a decade ago, then continued with new presidents in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua,” leaving only El Salvador and Colombia as the conservative governments of the hemisphere.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times - An Outsider’s Victory Allows Jubilant Paraguayans to Look Past Dictatorship – 22 April 2008

Telegraph - US concern as 'red bishop' wins Paraguay poll – 22 April 2008

PPN - Amnista afirma que Lugo debe priorizar Plan Nacional de Derechos Humanos - 21 April 2008

La Nacion - Amnistía Internacional pide a ex obispo un plan nacional de DDHH - 21 April 2008

Chilean Court Indicts Former Navy Officers for Priest’s Murder

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile – Arrest orders were extended for five high-ranking retired navy officers and a navy doctor on Friday. Retired admirals Sergio Barros, Guillermo Aldoney, and Adolfo Walabum and former captains Sergio Barra and Ricardo Riesgo were arrested along with navy doctor Carlos Costa. They are charged with the abduction, torture, and killing of political dissidents immediately following the military coup of 1973.

 

A British-Chilean priest working for the Christians for Socialsim was among the victims. Father Michael Woodward, 42, was arrested and detained on a cargo vessel. His arrest was connected to his involvement in community support tasks in poor areas of Valparaiso. He was tortured and hospitalized, and died six days after his arrest.  

He was buried in a mass grave. The navy officers sent his family a certificate stating he died of cardio-respiratory problems, but the prosecution claims the injuries were sustained under torture. 

The Chilean press, Amnesty International, as well as the victims’ families praise the indictments as “emblematic” because it is the first time Navy officers have been arrested for coup-related charges. 

Woodward’s sister, Patricia, presented a demand against the naval officers in 2002, which brought the case to the forefront 29 years after Woodward’s death. 

All officers maintain their innocence, and are being held in custody in military barracks in Valparaiso.  

The arrest warrants follow the sentencing of Chile’s former chief of the secret police, General Manuel Contreras, to 15 years for another disappearance during Pinochet’s dictatorship. His conviction marked the 100^th conviction stemming from that violent era.  

For more information, please see:

AP – Retired admirals indicted in Chile – 19 April 2008

JURIST – Chile court indicts retired navy officers for Pinochet-era killing of priest – 19 April 2008

MercoPress – Inquiry into death of British priest during Pinochet period – 18 April 2008

The Independent – Five Chilean officers indicted for killing of British priest in 1973 – 20 April 2008

 

Internally Displaced Increasing, New Paramilitary Emerging, Military on Check

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia–  In 2007, Colombia had almost 4 million internally displaced people, and although government reports announce a winning war against the rebels, the amount of the population that leaves their home towns is increasing.

The increasing amounts are due to the lack of capacity by the government to provide protection and assistance to the victims of the conflict. Colombia is the second country in the world with highest rate of displaced people, after Sudan, and before Iraq. In response to foreign pressure, the Colombian government has made efforts to process claims against the military, and its involvement in extrajudicial prosecutions and killings linked to drug deals or paramilitaries.

The Colombian Military made an announcement stating that there will be zero tolerance to the support by the military to illegal groups or drug traffickers.  In the past week seven members of the Colombian military add a new to the 718 members that are under investigation by the Justice department for involvements with paramilitaries, or new illegal right-wing forces.

One of the new right-wing paramilitary forces placed in the department of Cordoba is called the Aguilas Negras (Black Eagles). This group has been denounced by the catholic church of sending email threats against the priests, local leaders and NGOs. The Aguilas Negras are part of a new force emerging from the already displaced Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia-AUC (Colombian United Paramilitary Forces).

After negotiations with the Uribe government, about 32,000 renounced to the AUC and handed in their weapons. In exchange for their confessions, and adding with investigations the government granted them immunity, and up to eight-years in prison for the crimes committed. Confessions have led to an increasing amount of government officials linked to the illegal group.

For more information, please see:

Voice of America - Report: Record Number of People Displaced By Conflict And Violence - 17 April 2008

ISN - Colombia: The enemies of peace and democracy – 09 April 2008

Milenio – 748 militares colombianos son investigados por Justicia, afirma prensa – 18 April 2008

BBC Mundo - Cuatro millones de desplazados internos – 17 April 2008

Reuters América Latina - Ejército Colombia entrega 7 militares en investigación criminal – 16 April 2008

W Radio - Iglesia denuncia amenazas de Aguilas Negras en Magdalena Medio - 17 April 2008