Colombia has the world's second largest population of internally displaced persons (five million) due to the half-century internal armed conflict—the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere (since 1964). Control for territory and popular support among the three main groups (left-wing rebel forces FARC & ELN, right-wing paramilitaries, Colombian police/military) has left 220,000 killed, 75% of them non-combatants. Since 2000, the US has exacerbated the violence by sending more than $9 billion in mostly military assistance. Colombia, which has both Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, holds strategic interest for the US for global trade and military posturing.
We sent to officials in Colombia about the kidnapping and assassination of José Enrique Roa Cruz, an ex-combatant and signer of the 2016 Peace Accords. His two body guards, assigned to him through the National Protection Unit (UNP) were also killed in the attack on January 14.
The Peace Community of San José de Apartadó is made up of people living in a number of hamlets in the municipality of Apartadó. They maintain their right to not be drawn into Colombia's armed conflict and refuse to take sides with any of the parties to the conflict. They refuse to bear arms or provide information or logistical support to any armed party. In return, the members of the Peace Community demand that the parties to the armed conflict stay out of their communities and respect their decision not to participate in or to collaborate with the warring parties.
Since 2002, IRTF’s RRN has written more than thirty letters to Colombian officials about the human rights violations of the people of the San José Peace Community. Since the Peace Community was established in 1997, more than 200 of its members have been killed or subjected to enforced disappearance, while others have been threatened or sexually assaulted. The continued presence and threats from paramilitaries places members of the Community and other local inhabitants at increasing risk. Some of the threatening actions of the paramilitaries are taking place in areas with a military presence, confirming for residents a routine practice of camouflaging relations between the military and paramilitaries.
Communities and social leaders in both rural and urban areas of Colombia have experienced a significant increase in violence over the past year, making it difficult to find a safe haven. The narrative follows Erik, a farmer, who starts his day optimistically but highlights the underlying threat and danger faced by many. Armed groups roam freely, posing a heightened risk to social leaders, human rights defenders, and farmers. The article reflects on the grim reality of escalating violence, with a particular focus on El Guayabo, a campesino community accompanied by CPT Colombia for over a decade. The message extends prayers and thoughts to all affected peasant communities, expressing concern for their ability to cultivate the land and the fear of displacement. The hope is for a dignified life for all, free from violence, where stories can revolve around sunny days, cultivating the land, and sharing moments under an old mango tree.
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office (DPC) has reported that 181 social leaders and human rights defenders were murdered in 2023, marking a 16 percent decrease from the previous year. The annual report highlights the challenging situation faced by those dedicated to promoting and safeguarding community rights. Despite the decrease, the Ombudsman expressed concern about ongoing risks in regions affected by armed conflicts. The most affected groups include community members, indigenous people, peasants, Afro-descendants, victims, SOGID-LGBTIQ+ individuals, and human rights activists. The report indicates that April, June, and July had the highest number of murders. Cauca, Antioquia, and Nariño accounted for 41% of the cases, with Cauca being the most affected. The Ombudsman calls for intensified efforts to protect human rights defenders, urging state entities to implement preventive measures. Despite the 2016 peace accord, serious human rights concerns persist in Colombia, including abuses by armed groups, limited access to justice, and high poverty levels, particularly affecting Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The government generally investigates these issues, but delays are common. Armed groups, including former guerrillas and drug traffickers, contribute to human rights abuses.
Because of confrontations between armed groups in their territory, the Awá Indigenous community of Telembí in Nariño Department has been victim of confinement over recent months. Armed actors restrict their movement. There is a high risk to residents trying to leave their reservations to seek safety. Anti-personnel mines have been placed on ancestral roads. Authorities are prevented from attending meetings, even those called by state institutions. There is tension, worry, and a sense of danger.
On December 7, 2023, a pamphlet was left at the home of the Awá Indigenous Governor of Telembí, Alberto Nastacuas. The threat declared him a military objective and ordered him to leave the territory.
Robert Fernández was an active leader in the Campesino Workers Association of Cajibío, a municipality in Cauca Department. He was working on behalf of local campesino families who were awaiting the distribution of formerly private tracts of farm land from a large private farm that was being titled to them through the government’s National Land Agency (ANT). He was a well-respected leader with a multitude of affiliations. He was a member of the local Community Action Board, National Association of Campesino Reserve Zones (ANZORC), Process of Popular Unity of the SW of Colombia (PUPSOC), and the Social and Political Coordinating Body of the Patriotic March.
When Robert Fernández arrived home from work on December 11, 2023, he went outside to feed some chickens. From the house, his wife heard a motorcycle arrive. Then she heard an unknown man yell to Robert. Then she heard two gunshots. Running outside, his wife saw the hitman climb onto a black motorcycle and sped away. Her husband lay dead with two gunshots to the head.
La Guajira is home to many Wayúu communities, the largest Indigenous community in Colombia. It is also the department with the highest prevalence of food insecurity. “El Niño” weather patterns have been causing droughts and heatwaves, affecting yields of food staples such as rice and corn. Exacerbating the situation is migration from Venezuela and the presence of armed groups, which, according to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, creates the potential for massive displacements related to territorial disputes.
President Petro signed a State of Emergency (Decree 1085) on July 2, 2023, giving the Executive Branch broad powers to address the humanitarian crisis. But the Constitutional Court on October 2, 2023, declared the State of Emergency. “inapplicable.” It ruled instead that the court would do an individual analysis of each of the thirteen decrees that were part of the State of Emergency. It is disheartening that the CC has already repealed ten such initiatives, and more rulings are pending.
Over the last 12 months, there have been 1,482 ICE removal flights, mostly to Latin America and the Caribbean. Notably, there is a focus on removal flights to countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, raising concerns about the impact on individuals' rights and well-being. Three-quarters of removal flights are to those three countries.
The lack of access to asylum at ports of entry has led to distressing situations for asylum seekers. US lawmakers are considering stricter restrictions on asylum, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. The need for improving access to asylum and addressing the challenges faced by asylum seekers, especially women and children, is crucial.
Read the full IRTF Migrant Justice Newsletter each month at https://www.irtfcleveland.org/blog .
In Santiago de Cali (the capital city of Valle del Cauca Department in southwest Colombia), 26-year-old Camilo Osuna was known for his environmental work in places like the Siloé neighborhood, a hillside area of Santiago de Cali (Valle del Cauca Department) where he and fellow environmentalists revitalized a green space by clearing waste and debris. Clearly dedicated to environmental change, he was active in the Agroecological Gardeners Network and the “I stick to change” movement (Colectivo Me le Pego al Cambio).
On December 7, Camilo Osuna became the 158th social leader killed in 2023. We are urging the government of Colombia to move forward in designing (and funding) a new comprehensive plan for the protection of social leaders, as ordered by the Constitutional Court on December 11, 2023. More than 1500 social leaders have been killed in Colombia since the signing of the Peace Accords in 2016.
The letter calls for justice in the assassination of campesino leader Pedro Pablo Salas Sánchez in Putumayo on December 4, 2023. Salas was a respected community leader involved in defending the environment against contamination caused by oil exploitation and glyphosate. The letter highlights the dangers faced by social leaders in the region from armed groups, with the government being aware of the risks. It emphasizes the need to publish the investigation results, bring the responsible parties to justice, and collaborate with campesino leaders to implement protection measures. Additionally, the letter urges the government to develop and fund a comprehensive plan for the protection of social leaders, as mandated by the Constitutional Court on December 11, 2023, with active involvement of social leaders in the planning process.
