Colombia This Week -- editing date 30/08/02

[We are sorry to announce that the CTW service will be suspended until the beginning of October.]

Fri 23 – UNHCR concerned for IDPs; Kidnapping is highest ever; Aerial spraying to continue

·UNHCR expresses concern about the worsening plight of displaced people in Colombia and urges all armed groups to respect their rights

·UN World Food Programme (WFP) says armed roadblock has caused temporary suspension of food deliveries to 1,400 beneficiaries in Cantagallo, Morales, Rio Viejo (Bolívar) and Yondó (Antioquia)

·Free Country Foundation says levels of kidnapping have reached highest ever with 12,948 cases in last 4 years

·Speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Industries Association, ANDI, Uribe Vélez says aerial spraying will not be suspended for any reason

·"Joel Sierra" Human Rights Regional Committee issues early warning after paramilitaries reportedly enter Cubara (Boyacá) threatening the inhabitants

Sun 25 – 2 children shot dead in Paz de Ariporo; APDH condemns threats in Risaralda dept.

·2 children killed when suspected FARC guerrillas shoot at a group of civilians in Paz de Ariporo (Casanare)

·One civilian killed, two wounded and one man kidnapped during a suspected paramilitary incursion in Santa Bárbara (Antioquia)

·Uribe Vélez holds Security Council meeting in Carepa (Antioquia). He announces launch of informants network in Urabá and promises deployment of more soldiers and 100 extra policemen

·A three year old girl loses a hand after finding a bomb in the street in Medellín (Antioquia)

·Spokesman for Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH) in Ecuador, Alexis Ponce sends letter to Uribe Vélez condemning threats made against various human rights defenders in Risaralda department on 21 Aug

·3 soldiers killed and 6 more injured after suspected guerrillas attack Santa Elena, Carmen de Atrato (borders of Chocó and Antioquia)

·ACCU paramilitary group lifts transport blockade between Granada and Cocorná (Antioquia) after guerrillas reportedly burn 2 vehicles and kill drivers. The blockade was first imposed on 23 Aug

·Fiscalía says FARC were responsible for planting bomb in book sent to Fiscal General, Luis Camilo Osorio on 20 Aug

Mon 26 – Government says regional talks have not been authorised; Fiscal calls for census

·Government issues document reiterating that regional dialogues have not been authorised

·Army raids 2 FARC camps near Arauquita (Arauca) and seizes 9 model aeroplanes. They say FARC guerrillas were allegedly going to use the planes to carry explosives to attack government targets

·3 FARC guerrillas killed during fighting near San Vicente del Caguán (Caquetá) and 1 ELN guerrilla killed after fighting with Army near Yarumal (Antioquia)

·Judicial workers, judges and Fiscales announce plans for 24-hour strike on 16 September. They are calling for better pay and more stable working conditions

·Fiscal General, Luis Camilo Osorio says census should be taken to help control public order and to help guarantee peace in communities

·Marine Infantry destroy 5 cocaine processing laboratories in La Espriella (Nariño)

·316 internally displaced people (IDPs) from Mielón, Mapiripán (Meta) begin to receive humanitarian assistance from Social Solidarity Network (RSS) in San José del Guaviare (Guaviare) and Puerto Concordia (Meta)

·Conference is held in Medellín (Antioquia) to analyse urban conflict in Medellín and possible solutions

·Governor of Córdoba, Jesús María López Gómez says he is willing to begin negotiating with paramilitaries

·Campesino, Alexander Bermúdez is killed and 4 others disappeared after 800 paramilitaries reportedly arrive in Barragán

·International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), say they will visit Matitas (Guajira) to verify if rights of population have been violated since fighting broke out between guerrillas and paramilitaries on 17 Aug

Tues 27 – WFP programmes affected; Bishop of Apartadó threatened; CCJ condemns US request

·Spokesman for UN World Food Programme (WFP), Christiane Berthiaume says WFP operations in Colombia are suffering delays and losses due to illegal roadblocks and attacks on food transports by armed robbers

·Bishop of Apartadó (Antioquia), Germán García Isaza, and several priests reportedly receive death threats from FARC. Bishop had attended Security council in Carepa (Antioquia) where he had accused FARC of intermittently blocking roads in the region.

·Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ) condemns US request that US military trainers be exempt from prosecution by International Criminal Court (ICC). The organisation says it would foment impunity, violate principles of equality under the law and undermine the integrity of the ICC

·Foreign Minister, Carolina Barco says high-level government team is studying legality of US request. US Secretary of State, Coin Powell says US government will not pressurise nations to sign the accord but says US law allows Washington to cut funds to those who do not sign

·Defensoría del Pueblo says paramilitaries killed 3 indigenous leaders from Valle de Guamuez (Putumayo), Obencio Germán Crillo, Nelson Porfirio Criollo and Jesus Alirio Chiran. They were kidnapped two weeks ago

·ELN leaders in Cesar department and on Atlantic coast indicate to the Governor of Medellín, Rafael Bolaños, that they would be willing to start regional peace negotiations

·8 FARC guerrillas killed during fighting against Army in La Aguadita (Antioquia)

·Vice president, Francisco Santos says authorities detect about 20 skirmishes per week along Venezuelan border

·US Drug Czar, John Walters says US government hopes to resume interdiction flights by late autumn

·New Director of Prisons, Ricardo Emilio Cifuentes says prisoners will be relocated in accordance with how dangerous they are deemed to be, rather than the crime they have committed

·Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Gustavo Cano says government will offer to pay minimum salary to 50,000 families cultivating illicit crops if they change

·During a visit to US, Vice-President, Francisco Santos says he would like US Coast Guard to provide intelligence services to help combat drug-trafficking from Colombia to USA

·Uribe Vélez questions viability of neutrality in armed conflict and says Armed Forces should be present in peace communities, especially those that have declared themselves neutral.

·During a trip to Carepa (Antioquia), Uribe Vélez says he will give out awards every Monday to people who collaborate effectively with Armed Forces. He says identities of those who offer relevant information will be held confidential to guarantee safety

·Mayor of Medellín, Luis Pérez issues document in which he says urban conflict has led to loss of 110,131m pesos (equivalent to US$???) in Medellín metropolitan area between 96 and 00. He also says 29,032 out of total of 147,500 homicides in the area occurred in Valle del Aburrá (Antioquia). He says Medellín is the most violent city in Latin America and urges negotiated solution with armed groups in city

·1 member of ACCU paramilitary group is killed during fighting with Army in Turbo, Urabá (Antioquia). 12 other paramilitaries are captured in El Playón (Santander)

·Lisardo Domicó from National Indigenous Peace Council (ONIC) and Guillermo Tascón from Antioquia Indigenous Association (OIA) say they want to be involved in any negotiations with armed groups

·Governor of Cauca, Floro Tunubalá Paja travels to Bogotá to meet Uribe Vélez to discuss possibility of regional dialogues in Cauca department

·23 mayors of Antioquia department working from afar ask FARC to allow them to return to offices

·FARC reportedly kidnap 6 people, including 1 minor and 1 Italian citizen from roadblock in Magdalena. 4 are later released

Weds 28 – Video of 12 kidnapped legislators released; Paeces declare state of civil resistance

·A video showing 12 legislators kidnapped by FARC from Cali (Valle del Cauca) on 11 April is released. Valle del Cauca Assembly President, Juan Carlos Narvaez Reyes urges government to allow humanitarian exchange. The government says matter is in hands of UN

·Fiscalía says FARC have been using a cloned bank account of Cancillería to hold 1,500m pesos (US$553k) per month

·Uribe Vélez announces plans to restructure National Police Directorate

·Approx. 13,000 paeces indigenous people in Jambaló (Cauca) declare permanent state of civil resistance. Co-ordinator of civil resistance programme, Osnoraldo Martínez says they will use more drastic measures to expel FARC guerrillas from their land if peace and order do not return

·After 4 years, Fiscal General Luis Camilo Osorio shelves case against retired Army General, Fernando Millán who allegedly allowed paramilitary group to form in Lebrija (Santander).

·Fiscalía says 39 FARC guerrillas will be investigated for death of 4 policemen in San Adolfo (Huila)

·Presidential delegate for reconstruction of Bojayá and Vigía del Fuerte (Chocó), Everardo Muñoz says 600 IDPs will return home on Saturday

·Police of Magdalena department say 6 people were kidnapped by suspected FARC guerrillas on 20 Aug on road between Aracataca and Santa Marta (Magdalena)

·Fiscalía says 3 suspected IRA members held in La Modelo prison provided FARC with missile launchers

·2 policemen die and 9 injured after FARC reportedly attack police station, El Mirador (Putumayo)

·Humanitarian commission including delegates from Defensoría del Pueblo, Social Solidarity Network (RSS), Church and Meta Departmental Peace Council publishes report. It recommends that authorities regain control of Guaviare river to guarantee protection for local population

·According to Colombian daily, El Tiempo 546 mayors are currently threatened and 99 working from afar

Colombia This Week is a news summary produced and distributed by ABColombia Group. Sources include daily Colombian, US, European and Latin American newspapers, and reports from non-governmental organisations and the UN System. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the ABColombia Group.

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