The War in Colombia Continues; Warlords Plead Guilty to Drug Charges in Miami; American Lawyers Defend Colombian Victims

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

PASTO, Colombia – Regardless of the recent success of the Colombian government against the Marxist groups that have been violently rebelling for forty years, the rural areas of the country continue to struggle against drugs and murder.  What’s worse is that the emphasis has diminished since the hostage rescue last month and deaths of some rebel leaders earlier this year.

Marxist rebels, including Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), tax coca farmers to coordinate smuggling networks.  Colombia produces ninety percent of the cocaine used in the United States.

In late June, four teachers were killed in the province of Nariño.  The violent actions of Marxist groups are reported weekly in these regions.

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Despite Rebel Losses, Cocaine Sustains War in Rural Colombia – 26 July 2008
International Herald Tribune – No end in sight for Colombia fighting – 27 July 2008
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MIAMI, United States – Ramiro Vanoy Murillo and Francisco Javier Zuluaga Londo along with twelve other Colombian paramilitary members were extradited in May to the United States for their roles in cocaine smuggling.  Murillo and Londo are accused of conspiring to smuggle thousands of kilos into the United States via Mexico.

These two warlords entered guilty pleas and face 17-19 years in prison.  Each warlord may face up to $4 million in fines.

For more information, please see:

AP- Colombian warlords plead guilty to drug charges – 29 July 2008
NBC – Colombian Warlord Appear in Miami Court – 29 July 2008
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BOGOTA, Colombia – Roxanna Altholz and Almudena Bernabeu are human rights lawyers from the United States.  They have announced that they intend to represent the victims of seven of the fourteen paramilitary leaders that were extradited to Florida in May.

The paramilitary leaders will be tried for drug-trafficking rather than the extreme crimes against humanity that they are allegedly directing.  Since seventy percent of the violent crimes in Colombia are carried out with drug-trafficking money, the human rights attorneys believe the victims have rights to complete their search for justice.  They will allow victims to testify and remain informed.  Although results may not be immediate, Altholz and Bernabeu are dedicated to the cause and will continue to meet with human rights groups, and representatives of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s Office.

For more information, please see:

IPS – US Lawyers to Defend Victims of Paramilitaries – 26 July 2008
FBI Press Release – Fourteen Members of Colombian Paramilitary Group Extradited to the United States to Face U.S. Drug Charges – 13 May 2008