What has been widely known by human rights activists in Colombia and abroad for years was finally given national attention when it was discovered that the Gaula xx Police of Medellín had tapped the phones of over 170 NGOs, most of them human rights organizations. The story was broken by the Colombian newspaper El Espectador, which on February 16, 2001 reported that this revelation was the result of an investigation carried out by the Human Rights Unit and the Medellín Section of the Office of the Attorney General. The extent to which this type of illegal activity has been carried out throughout the country has yet to be established. It is also common practice for the Colombian Army to tap the phones of certain individuals and organizations. As one can imagine, countless individuals have been at risk because of these actions.
