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Crisis in Colombia
Colombia: FARC Must Release Abducted Presidential Candidate (New York, February 26, 2002) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (known as the FARC) should immediately release abducted presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt without condition, Human Rights Watch said today. More.. Colombia: Sudden End to Peace Negotiations Puts Civilians at Risk (New York, February 21, 2002) Colombian authorities should take immediate steps to protect the civilian population in the area ceded to rebel forces as a safe haven for peace talks, Human Rights Watch said today. More.. Colombia Fails Rights Test (New York, February 5, 2002) -- The Colombian government has failed to satisfy human rights conditions on U.S. security assistance Human Rights Watch, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and Amnesty International said in a briefing paper released today. More.. Questions and Answers on Human Rights in Colombia (New York, November 6, 2001) This week President Andrés Pastrana will visit the United States on a trip that includes a scheduled meeting on November 11 with President George W. Bush. His agenda will include discussions about the new war on terrorism as well as continued U.S. funding for counternarcotics efforts in Colombia. More.. Colombia: Paramilitary Groups Closely Tied to Army, Police (New York, October 4, 2001) Units of the Colombian military and police continue to work with and tolerate the illegal paramilitary groups responsible for the country's most serious human rights violations, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. What You Can Do to Stop Abuses by Paramilitary Groups Testimony of José Miguel Vivanco before the U.S. Senate (July 11, 2001) — Human Rights Watch believes that it is important for this Subcommittee to continue to support human rights in Colombia by including strong and workable human rights conditions in the legislation under consideration. Conditions create an effective and measurable mechanism to promote positive change for human rights in Colombia. Rebel Abuses Worsening (July 10, 2001) — In a twenty-page letter to Manuel Marulanda, the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo, FARC-EP), Human Rights Watch described the FARC-EP's responsibility for serious abuses, including killings of civilians, hostage-taking, the use of child soldiers, grossly unfair trials, the cruel and inhuman treatment of captured combatants, and the forced displacement of civilians. Oral Intervention on Colombia at the 57th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (April 4, 2001) — It is laudable that President Andrés Pastrana and his Armed Forces chiefs have made strong statements against paramilitaries. But words are not enough. Paramilitary activity has increased and these groups, often working with the tolerance or support of the Colombian military, are considered responsible for nearly 80 percent of all human rights violations last year in Colombia. A record ten human rights defenders were killed in 2000. Backgrounder on the Pastrana-Bush Summit (February 24, 2001) — When Colombian President Andrés Pastrana meets with President George W. Bush next Tuesday, February 27, the two leaders will discuss U.S. military aid to Colombia, including the issue of Colombia's progress on improving human rights. This background briefing outlines the key human rights problems in Colombia and includes sample questions to be put to the two presidents at their joint press conference. Leading Human Rights Groups Oppose Renewed Funding for Colombia (Washington, DC, January 12, 2001) — Three leading human rights groups called on President Bill Clinton to enforce congressionally-mandated human rights conditions on Colombia, thereby blocking delivery of the final funds from last year's $1.3 billion aid package. Guerrillas Must Release Civilian Hostages (New York, November 29, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today called for the immediate release of all civilian hostages in Colombia. In a letter to Manuel Marulanda, commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Human Rights Watch drew special attention to Henry A. Grosch-Garces, a Buenaventura man who is believed to be seriously ill. Protect Threatened Judge (New York, November 28, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today urged the Colombian government not to withdraw the security protection for a former judge who ordered the arrest of Pablo Escobar in 1988. In a letter to President Andrés Pastrana, Human Rights Watch warned that the life of Judge Consuelo Sánchez Durán will be in danger after the withdrawal of her security, scheduled for today, Tuesday, November 28. Europe Must Support Colombia Civil Society, Address Human Emergency (New York, October 24, 2000) — European countries must do more to support Colombian human rights groups and civil society, which are increasingly under siege, Human Rights Watch said today. European Union representatives are gathering today in Colombia's capital, Santafé de Bogotá, to announce aid to Colombia. The Human Rights Situation in Colombia and the Implications of U.S. Security Assistance (Statement by Americas Division Executive Director José Miguel Vivanco before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on International Relations) (Washington, D.C., September 21, 2000) — Human Rights Watch remains convinced that the most important way that the United States can contribute to improving human rights protections in Colombia is to enforce strict conditions on all military aid. Human Rights the Priority for Clinton Trip to Colombia (New York, August 28, 2000) — Three leading human rights groups called on President Bill Clinton to make protecting human rights the priority when he meets with leaders in Colombia on August 30. On the eve of the president's first-ever visit to that Latin American country, the groups said that he must make it clear and public that progress on human rights remains critical to winning continued U.S. support. Clinton's Colombia Waiver "a Grave Mistake" (New York, August 23, 2000) — Human Rights Watch contends that President Clinton's decision to waive human rights conditions on the $1.3 billion military aid package to Colombia will encourage violent abuses. On August 22, Clinton signed a waiver allowing the United States to ignore human rights conditions included in the military aid package. In granting the waiver, Clinton not only makes America complicit in ongoing abuses but risks converting a failed drug war into a disastrous human rights policy. Colombia Fails Human Rights Requirements of U.S. Aid Package (New York, August 21, 2000) — The Colombian government has not complied with the human rights conditions contained in the recently-passed $1.3 billion aid package signed by President Clinton, Human Rights Watch said today. This failure should lead the U.S. State Department to suspend aid until the Colombian government makes the changes necessary to guarantee respect for human rights. Colombia's Military Linked to Paramilitary Atrocities (Washington, D.C., February 23, 2000) — In a new report, Human Rights Watch accused specific brigades and commanding officers in the Colombian military of collaborating with paramilitaries who are committing atrocities against civilians. Human Rights Watch's evidence strongly suggests that, far from moving decisively to sever ties to paramilitaries, Colombia's military high command has yet to take the necessary steps to accomplish this goal. Human Rights Watch's information implicates Colombian Army brigades operating in the country's three largest cities, including the capital, Bogotá. The Ties That Bind: Colombia and Military-Paramilitary Links Human Rights Watch report, February 2000. War Without Quarter: Colombia and International Humanitarian Law Human Rights Watch report, October 1998. Colombia's Killer Networks: The Military-Paramilitary Partnership and the United States Human Rights Watch report, November 1996. State of War: Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia Human Rights Watch report, December 1993. Human Rights Watch Statement on Colombia Given before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Geneva, April 14, 2000) — Last year, Colombia's Public Advocate recorded over 400 massacres. Most massacres were perpetrated by paramilitaries working with the tacit acquiescence or open support of the Colombian Army. Letter to Gen. Fernando Tapias Stahelin (Washington, D.C., April 4, 2000) — I must take issue with the personal attacks directed against myself and the false and inflammatory suggestions made against Human Rights Watch, an organization that I believe maintains the highest standards of research and accountability. Letter to Madeleine Albright (Washington, D.C., February 23, 2000) — I wish to draw your attention to information obtained by Human Rights Watch that provides detailed, abundant, and compelling evidence of continuing close ties between the Colombian Army and paramilitary groups responsible for gross human rights violations. |
When we arrived in Barrancabermeja today, we unknowingly walked into another of the hottest spots in Colombia's war. Here, the paramilitaries and guerrillas have taken their battles out of the fields and forests and onto the streets and into the neighborhoods. Robin Kirk, Human Rights Watch Researcher The message is that the bad apples with the armed forces shouldn't be worried. José Miguel Vivanco Executive Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch On August 22, 2000, President Clinton invoked Section 4 [of Public Law 106-246], waiving the [law's] human rights conditions on the grounds of U.S. national security interests. We deplore this decision.
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