Impunity Watch: South America

Amnesty Int’l: Human Right Abuses Continue, and Government Denies it

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch, South America  Reporter

BOGOTA, Colombia - After the killing of labor unionist Alejandro Uribe, the civil population in Colombia demand the conflicting forces to stop targeting civilians. Amnesty International researcher on Colombia, Marcelo Pollack reports that Colombia denies the existence of a problem, and that such denial only undermines the abuses and killings.

The new report issued this week describes the stories of the victims in the Colombian conflict, including afro-colombians, indigenous, small scale farming families and other displaced groups. The report also describes the role that minors and females have played in the conflict, as victims of abuses and tools of war. The report described the increase of security in the metropolitan areas, as well as the decadence and worsening of situation in the country side.

The report further describes the statistics of civilian killings and displaced; reporting: Reporting 1,300 civilians killed in 2006 and 1,400 killed in 2007. The Amnesty report adds that in the cases were the perpetrators are known, the Colombian security forces were responsible for at least 330 of those cases. The paramilitaries were responsible for 300 and guerrillas for 260.

In regards to the displace population, more than 305,000 were displaced in 2007, compared with 220,000 in 2006. From those civilians, 190 were victims of forced disappearances by any of the military groups or disappeared after guerrilla incursions in 2007. This figure was up from around 180 in 2006.

The Amnesty report comes as the Colombian Military scandal brought to light the army’s practices to kidnap civilians to later present them as guerrillas killed in the conflict. Scandal from which, President Uribe was prompted to dismiss 27 soldiers, including three generals and 11 colonels.

In addition, President Bush had signed into law a bill in Dec. 26, 2007 to provide an estimated $19.8 million for the Colombia Prosecutor General’s office, including funds for witness protection and human rights programs. The Politico reports that the State and Justice Departments did not complete the required approvals and paperwork until this month—when a new fiscal year was already underway.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International - More face abuse and death as Colombia's government denies human rights situation - 28 October 2008
BBC - Uribe under pressure over killings – 31 October 2008
Politico - Bush finally sends aid to Colombia – 30 October 2008

Probe Leads to Discharge of 27 Officers for the “Murder of Innocents”

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – The Colombia military discharged 27 army officers on Wednesday, October 29 for their involvement in the murders of 19 young men found in a mass grave near the Venezuela border.
Three generals, four colonels, and 20 officers were implicated in a three-week probe.  President Uribe directed the purge after he received the probe’s results from General Carlos Suarez.  The probe investigated 803 members of the military including 99 officers.

The probe began as a result of “public uproar over the deaths of between 11 and 19 men” found in mass graves in a combat zone.  The officers allegedly tricked the men by promising them jobs in a plot to call the men as enemy casualties in order to claim high body counts. 

The three generals accepted Uribe’s decision but maintain their innocence.  The probe says they are “guilty at least of negligence, including permitting soldiers to conspire with criminals in what Uribe called ‘the murder of innocents.’”

One general, General Pico stated, “My conscience is clean.  I think this is something unjust because I have worked, dedicated everything to my army, including even not taking good enough care of my family.”  Another general, Paulino Coronado said “I didn’t order, I didn’t know of or allow – not even by omission – any illegal activity.”  However, Coronado directly claimed that nine of the men’s bodies were a result of combat with rebels when the bodies were discovered.

The purge came following a public cry from Amnesty International for other nations to cut off military aid to Colombia until human rights violations and civilian murders could be reduced.  Members of the opposition political party in Colombia say that Uribe “should have long ago insisted the military change its policy of promoting officers who produced the highest body counts.”

For more information, please see:

AP – Colombia Fires 20 Army Officers in Civilian Deaths – 30 October 2008

Reuters – Colombia purges army officers over deaths – 29 October 2008

Guardian.co.uk – Colombian government dismisses 27 top army officers – 30 October 2008

Colombian Officers Fired for Role in Civilian Deaths

By Victor Ray Garza
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America Desk

BOGOTA, Colombia - President Alvaro Uribe has ordered the firing of twenty military officers for their roles in the deaths of eleven civilians.  As reported earlier the bodies of eleven men who disappeared from a poor Bogota suburb were discovered in a mass grave along the border with Venezuela.  An investigation into the deaths of the men revealed that members of the military were "involved" in the deaths of the men.  Uribe said in his announcement of the arrests that the officers had allowed "the collusion of members of the army with criminals" in "the murder of innocents".

Details of the charges were not given but Uribe said the investigation had been turned over to prosecutors.  The investigation into the deaths of the eleven men revealed that the men were killed within one or two days of their disappearance from the slums of the Bogota suburb of Soacha.  Neighbors in Soacha reported that strangers offered the men work on farms in the north.  Family members of the men report most of them suffered from mental and physical disabilities. 

These findings show that the account given by military officials is highly suspect.  After the discovery of the mass grave military officers claimed the men were rebels killed in a fire fight with the military.  Investigators doubt the men were recruited and then killed in combat within the two day period.  Investigators also believe guerrilla groups would not have recruited the men given their disabilities.

The investigation came after protests by family members and community members in Soacha demanded answers to the disappearances and deaths.  The announcement of the firings comes as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, visits Colombia to conduct her own investigations into the situation. 

According to a report by the International Observation Mission 1,300 people have been killed for political reasons since President Uribe took office in 2002.  The deaths of the eleven men were reported to be part of the so called "false positive" killings used to give the illusion of governmental control of rebel groups.  Uribe has claimed that the killings were part of an agreement between the military and criminal groups to cover up criminal activities.  The actual killers of the men have not been revealed.  The investigation has not gone so far as to accuse the military officers of killing the men. 

The revelation that the military played a role in the killings has given hope to those calling for an end to international support of the Colombian government's efforts to suppress the rebel movement.  The United States is the largest supporter through its Plan de Colombia.  The "plan" provides financial and military support to Colombia to combat drug traffickers and rebel groups.  International human rights groups have called on the United States to end the support.  The groups claim Uribe's government is using the money and arms to suppress political dissenters and innocent civilians.  The revelations of governmental involvement also threaten the passage of the Colombian free trade agreement in the United States and Europe.  The results of the investigation will be watched closely around the world. The full effects of the revelation of governmental involvement remain to be seen.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press - Colombia fires 20 army officers in civilian deaths - 29 October 2008

Voice of America - Colombian army officers fired in civilian deaths - 29 October 2008

AFP - Colombia sacks generals over suspected executions - 29 October 2008

BBC - Colombia sacks troops over deaths - 29 October 2008   

Chavez Calls to Imprison Rival Politician

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – The country of Venezuela has opened a “corruption probe” of popular Governor Manuel Rosales of the western Zulia state.  The allegations originated on Saturday from President Hugo Chavez.  Chavez stated that he had “decided to make Manuel Rosales a prisoner.  He cannot continue in office… He is one of those who wants to see me dead.”  Chavez is using the arrests of two people involved in a plot to shoot down the presidential plane within the state which Rosales represents as proof that Rosales has plotted his assassination.

Today, Giancarlo Di Martino, a candidate running to succeed Rosales as governor, and a close ally for Chavez, accused Governor Rosales of extortion, misusing public funds and even involvement in the murder of a student protest leader.  Julio Soto was shot last year protesting in favor of the same goals that Rosales’s political campaign supports. 

Rosales is one of only four governors out of the 23 states of Venezuela that oppose President Hugo Chavez.  He campaigned against Hugo Chavez in the 2006 presidential election, and is currently running for mayor of Venezuela’s second largest city, Maracaibo.  He is currently serving his second term as governor.

Rosales’s response to the allegations is that Chavez falsely accused Rosales in order to prevent his election to mayor next month.  Rosales also countered with his own accusations against the president, including connections to Colombian guerrilla rebels.  He called the Chavez administration a “nest of gangsters and mafia leaders.”

Opposition leaders like Rosales criticize a recent official bar against 272 candidates’ campaigns for the upcoming election.  The candidates were suspected of graft according to authorities, but critics said the ban favored Chavez supporters and targeted popular opposition candidates.

For more information, please see:

AP – Venezuela’s Chavez threatens to imprison popular opposition governor, weeks before election – 26 October 2008

AP- Chavez opponent faces corruption allegations – 28 October 2008

PR-inside – Chavez government campaign of intimidation seeks to link Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales with State Lottery fraud – 22 October 2008

Indigenous and Landless Peasants in Paraguay Plead for Protection From Their Government

By Victor Ray Garza
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

A group of Ayoreo-Totobiegosode men investigate an abandoned house of their uncontacted relatives discovered as it lay directly in the path of a bulldozer clearing the forest. The Indians had fled as the bulldozer approached.© Survival

ASCUNCION, Paraguay-Members of the isolated Ayoreo-Totobiegosode Indian Tribe of Paraguay have made their way to the capital city of Ascuncion to seek assistance from the government.  Four contacted members of the tribe are asking that the government enforce law enacted in 1993 to protect the lands of South Americas lone remaining uncontacted tribe outside the Amazon. 

The Ayoreo-Totobiegosode live in the temperate forest area of Paraguay known as the Chaco.  The territory is on the border with Brazil.  During the right wing dicatatorship of Alfredo Stroessner in the 1970's a large number of Brazilians were invited to begin farming in the Chaco.  There was a law that prohibited foreigners, including the Brazilians, from owning land in Paraguay.  The enforcement of the law was lax at best.  Many of the Brazilians and their descendants have continued to this day to claim land for their farms and ranches in violation of the law.   

The Brazilian land grab has put severe pressure on the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode who are under constant threat from the farmers and ranchers clearing their traditional lands.  The large landless peasant community of the area has also been pushed to the brink by the land grab.  Their small scale farms are being cleared for grazing operations or large scale soy bean farms.  The landless peasants are a visible and vulnerable minority in the area.  They are largely comprised of contacted indigenous peoples who speak only Guaraní.  The Brazilian majority in the region have created closed communities that do not allow the peasants to participate in the political process. Erni A. Schlindwein, a Brazilian farmer in Chaco stated “Here, people do what they want.”

There is hope in the new government of President Fernando Lugo.  The left leaning President Lugo broke a 61 year old strong hold by the conservative Colorado Party.  President Lugo spent 11 years working as a priest in the Chaco.  The peasants hope he will fulfill his promise to enforce the law.  President Lugo has asked the peasants to be patient and give him time to enforce his plan to distribute lands and institue argricultural reforms.

In the mean time, the peasants and the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode live under the threat from the land grabbing farmers and ranchers.  Some of the farmers and ranchers have even imported the Latin American paramilitary concept into Paraguay.  Armed men are roaming the Chaco region in front of bulldozers.  The land of the peasants and the indigenous peoples is being scarred and polluted to the point where it has threatened the food and water supply of the region. 

In a meeting with President Bush of the United States President Lugo promised to bring transparency and an end to corruption to the government of Paraguay.  According to the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode and the peasants of the Chaco region, their survival depends on his promise being fulfilled.

For more information, please see:

RTT News - Bush Meets Paraguay President Lugo, Supports Corruption Fight - 27 October 2008

New York Times - Left-leaning President's Election Gives Hope to Landless Peasants - 13 October 2008

Punch - Indians plead for help to save uncontacted relatives - 27 October 2008

Bloomberg - Isolated Paraguayan Tribe Threatened by Ranchers - 10 October 2008

FARC Hostage Freed

By Christopher Gehrke
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia’s military helped free a hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) today, said local authorities.

Former lawmaker Oscar Lizcano, 62,  had been held in captivity by FARC rebels for eight years.  Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia’s defense minister, said Lizcano was freed by a former FARC member, known only as “Isaza” (an alias), who decided to leave the rebel group.  Isaza and Lizcano came to the military in Choco, where the army had been planning a rescue operation.

According to Santos, “simultaneously, while they were working on the preparations and keeping pressure on the FARC unit that held Lizcano, the unit chief alias Isaza decided to flee three days ago.  He fled and the two went looking for authorities, trekked across the jungle day and night for three days until this morning they stumbled across.”

Military authorities originally told Radio Caracol that Dr. Lizcano was rescued in a “joint intelligence operation” between the army and the police.

Marta de Lizcano, the wife of the freed hostage, said, “this nightmare is coming to an end… these have been eight years of suffering.”

“But I urge the world to make more of an effort; because today, Oscar is free, but there are so many more people who are still left (held hostage) in the jungle.  We have got to get them all out.  Not one can remain kidnapped.  It is inhumane.”

Lizcano was one of a group of 29 high-profile abductees that FARC has sought to swap for nearly 500 imprisoned rebels.  Lizcano is the first FARC hostage to be liberated since the July rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors.

For more information, please see:

Agence France Presse - Colombian army helps hostage home, after 8-year ordeal – 26 October 2008

Al-Jazeera - Colombian army ‘frees FARC hostage’ – 26 October 2008

Associated Press – Colombian hostage flees with jailer – 26 October 2008

Bloomberg – Colombia Frees FARC Hostage Lizacano After 8 Years Caracol Says – 26 October 2008

ALDHU: Colombian Military Kidnapped Ecuadorian Civilians

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador - The Latin American Association for Human Rights reported incursions by the Colombian military into Ecuadorian territory on October 21st.

Two Colombian military water-boats crossed the San Miguel river, and entered the towns of “11 de Abril” and “Fuerzas Unidas”; about fifty families live in each town. The Colombian military allegedly broke into the houses around 3AM, destroyed property and assaulted the civilians.

Apparently, the Colombian military was guided by a FARC deserter, who pointed out the houses of FARC sympathizers. Without further information, the military proceeded to break into the houses and interrogate the civilians.

At around 6AM, two boats approached the Ecuadorian riverside with passengers.  Then, the military proceeded to abduct four boat operators and took them across the river into “La Caucasia,” on the Colombian side of the border.  The Ecuadorian motorboats were taken along and their engines were destroyed.

The families and friends of the abductees proceeded to cross the river to the Colombian side, and demanded the liberation of the abducted men, who were freed hours later.

An Ecuadorian military patrol arrived at the site.  Civilians demanded payment for the engines and the Ecuadorian patrol proceeded to talk with the Colombian military. Upon return from the Colombian shore, the Ecuadorian military proceeded to harass the civilians, and demand receipts or prove of property in regards to the engines.

Civilians later reported another incursion of the Colombian military by air. Two armored helicopters allegedly flew two-kilometers deep into Ecuadorian territory.

The Colombian government denied any incursion or violation of international agreements.

Fore more information, please see:

El Pais - Desmienten violación de la frontera – 25 October, 2008

Ecuadorinmediato  - ALDHU: militares colombianos sí violaron territorio ecuatoriano – 25 October, 2008

Ecuadorinmediato  - ALDHU RATIFICA QUE FUERON TRES LAS INCURSIONES DE COLOMBIA CONTRA ECUADOR – 24 October, 2008 

Military Officers Discharged for Involvement on Civilians Disappearances

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia - Families in the Soacha region reported to the authorities at the beginning of the year, that youth in the area had disappeared. In September, 11 young men from Soacha were found death in the area of Ocaña – Northern Santander.

Initial reports announced that the youth might have tried to escape force recruiting by illegal groups. Paramilitary and guerrillas groups were assumed to have had taken part of a forced-recruiting scheme. The Colombian Military turned in the 11 bodies as guerrilla killed during confrontations, raising red-flags around the country about the contradictions.

The minister of Defense, Juan Manuel Santos, instructed the military to investigate further the circumstances of the killings. The Attorney general’s investigators interviewed a young man from Soacha who testified to have been contacted by a military officer who offered money to the young men in exchange for finding a “guaca” – referring to hidden drug money. Similar situations around the nation have alarmed the public assuming the extra judicial executions are sponsored by the government.

Officers in Northern Santander were presumably involved in the desperations and then showed the bodies as “falsos positivos”, or fake scores; attempting to show a higher number of guerrilla killings during confrontations, but showing civilians not related to the conflict as enemies.

General Mario Montoya, Commander of the military announced that none in the Colombian ranks would be allowed to remain in the military if found to be involved in these events. The policy of zero-tolerance to crime and corruption aims to create transparency and responsibility in everyone within the government to maintain legitimacy and respect.   

Due to the links, Coronel Santiago Herrera from the 5th Division; Coronel Ruben Castro, commander of the Mobile-Brigade 15 of Northern Santander; and Lieutenant-Coronel Gabriel Rincon, Chief of Operations of the Mobile-Brigade 15 of Northern Santander were all discharged from their ranks.

Further investigations will determine the role, if any, of these military-men with the events.

Fore more information, please see:

Caracol Radio - Ruedan cabezas en el Ejército por falsos positivos - 24 October 2008

El Tiempo - Tres coroneles serían relevados por desapariciones de jóvenes en - 24 October 2008

CM&  - Relevados tres oficiales del Ejército por caso Ocaña – 24 October 2008

Protesters’ Clash with Police Leave Two Dead

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CALI, Colombia – According to CNN, thousands of Indians in southwestern Colombia have been protesting for greater land rights and against free-market capitalism since October 10.  Tuesday was no different, as the group marched toward Colombia’s second largest city of Cali.  Their demands include “more land, better education and health care and protection from corporations encroaching on their land.”

During these last two weeks, four protesters were killed and 130 were wounded in clashes with police.  The injuries are bullets and shrapnel from police rifles.  Two of these casualties occurred on Tuesday when security forces opened fire at the group.

Initially, government officials denied the allegations, citing other demonstrators as the perpetrators.  National chief of Colombia’s riot police said, “We think he was shot from within the crowd, and they’re doing that to whip up anger.”  However, when CNN released a videotape, President Uribe admitted that the police fired despite a government pledge not to do so.

Authorities say that the Indian demonstrators have blocked important trade roads, used slingshots to throw stones, and thrown homemade explosives at police.  Uribe insists that these explosives rather than security force bullets caused the casualties.

The government has released a statistic that shows approximately 70 security force officers have been injured in these clashes.

The indigenous community complains that several websites and a radio station are blocked so that the media cannot cover the demonstrations.  These websites include the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca and the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council.  The power was cut at radio stations like “La Libertad” while coverage of the protests was being broadcast.  The belief is that the suppression of media is aiming toward “preventing the dissemination of allegations of excessive use of force by security forces during the demonstrations.”

For more information, please see:

IFEX – Authorities Suppress Coverage of Indigenous Protests – 22 October 2008

CNN – 2 men killed in Colombia protests – 22 October 2008

CNN – Video may show Colombia police firing shots during protest – 22 October 2008

CNN – Uribe: Colombian police fired on protesters – 23 October 2008

Indigenous Protesters Begin Their March to Cali

By Victor Ray Garza
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America Desk

BOGOTA, Colombia-Thousands of indigenous protesters are marching along the Pan American Highway headed to Cali.  The protesters are taking their demonstrations to Colombia's third largest city with the hopes of getting the attention of President Alavro Uribe.  They seek to present their five point agenda directly to the President.   The protesters have vowed to continue marching all the way to Bogata to speak directly with President Uribe.  The Uribe administration has yet to listen to the demands of the indigenous protesters.

The Uribe government has instead responded by declaring a "state of internal commotion."  This declaration gave the Uribe administration the authority to mobilize the Mobile Anti-Disturbances Squadron (ESMAD).  The squadron is meant to deal with large public disturbances and riots.  ESMAD's tactics have been previously questioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights after the deaths of six protesters.  The heavy handed government response has already drawn the attention of human rights watch groups. 

The death of two farm workers on their way to join the protesters is the latest incident blamed on the ESMAD.  The farm workers were on their way to join the march when they were killed in a confrontation with the riot police.  Reports are unclear as to the cause of the deaths.  Government police claim the two farm workers were killed by a bomb they were carrying.  The protesters claim they were assasinated by the riot police.  The indigenous protesters have temporarily halted the march in order to further investigate the deaths.  They are also waiting for groups of union workers and women's rights workers to join their march.

Reports are sketchy because of an alleged media blackout by the government.  The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) has alleged that the websites of the indigenous groups have been shutdown and that their radio stations are experiencing repeated power outages.  The coverage of the protests by the mainstream media has been minimal.  The independent media network of South America has been able to get the word out to the international community. But the coverage within Colombia has not been as extensive. 

The indigenous protesters hope by taking their protests to the larger cities in Colombia that they will gain more attention.  The international community continues to monitor the situation.  Word has even spread to Canada were a workers group plans to stage a protest of solidarity later this week.  The goal of the protesters remains to get the attention of the President.   

For more information, please see:

IFEX - Colombia: Authorities Suppress Coverage of Indigenous Protests - 22 October 2008

Colombia Reports - Indigenous suspend march after death of farm workers - 21 October 2008

El Espectador - Movilizacion indigena fue suspendida tras muerte de dos protestantes - 22 October 2008

Colombia Reports - Indigenous begin march to Cali - 21 October 2008